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THEY WERE JUST ABOUT TO PROCEED WHEN THREE INDIANS RODE UP 
Pioneer Boys of the Gold Fields — Frontispiece — p, 144. 



PIONEER BOYS OF 
THE GOLD FIELDS 

OR 


THE NUGGET HUNTERS Of 49 


e t c t 

CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL 

AUTHOR OF "PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST,” 
"WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER,” "FLAG OF 
FREEDOM SERIES,” ETC. 






CHATTERTON-PECK COMPANY 


NEW YORK, N. Y. 


'2>p 


my -rf CONGRESS 
i- Oui-.ws deceived 
)V ft 1906 




■ try 



U3 k '/. 


BOOKS BY 

CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL 


THE FRONTIER SERIES 

Price, per Volume, $1.00 


WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER ; 

Or, The Pioneer Boys of Ohio. 
PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT 

NORTHWEST ; 

Or, With Lewis and Clark Across 

the Rockies. 

PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD 

FIELDS; 

Or, The Nugget Hunters of ’49. 


FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES 

Price, per Volume, 60 cents 


WHEN SANTIAGO FELL; 

Or, The War Adventures of Two 

Chums. 

A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY; 

Or, Afloat in the Philippines. 

OFF FOR HAWAII ; 

Or, The Secret of a Great Volcano. 
THE YOUNG BANDMASTER; 

Or, Concert Stage and Battlefield. 
WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK 

HILLS ; 

Or, A Young Scout Among the Indians. 
BOYS OF'T'HE FORT; 

Or, A Yp&h£ Captain’s Pluck. 



Copyright, 1906 

BY 

STITT PUBLISHING COMPANY 


Pioneer Boys of the Gold Fields. 



PREFACE 


“Pioneer Boys of the Gold Fields” relates 
the adventures of three sturdy youths who go 
west to seek their fortune during the great rush 
to California in 1849. 

At the start the boys are unknown to each 
other — one coming from the city, another from 
the country, while a third is just home from a 
long whaling voyage. But the magic word, 
“Gold!” is on every lip, and in company with 
thousands of others, they make the long and 
perilous journey across the plains and the moun- 
tains, to the Land of Promise. On the way they 
have several encounters with wild beasts and 
with Indians, — scenes taken from actual life. 
When the gold diggings are reached they find that 
a great deal of hard labor lies before them, but 
they do not shirk, and their success is well de- 
served. They find the gold fields overrun with 
bad men, and at the height of their prosperity 
they are robbed of their treasure. What happens 
after that, the pages which follow relate in de- 
tail. 

iii 


IV 


PREFACE 


In writing this story the author has had but one 
purpose in view — to give his readers a faithful 
picture of the exciting times of ’49, when rich and 
poor, high and low, laborers and bankers, jour- 
neyed by land or by water to California in search 
of gold. The excitement was intense, equaled 
only by that when gold was first discovered in the 
Klondyke region. In those days there were no 
railroads across the western portion of our coun- 
try, and the journey had to be made on foot or on 
horseback and took months where it now takes 
but days. Those who did not go by land sailed 
either to the Isthmus of Panama, crossed, and 
went up the coast of California by ship, or else 
took the still longer voyage around Cape 
Horn. Surely the hearts of these Argonauts were 
of the stoutest, and their deeds deserved to be 
chronicled ! 

Captain Ralph Bonehill. 

August 15, 1906. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I. Mark and His Difficulties 




PAGE 

I 

II. 

News from California . 




IO 

III. 

Mark Runs Away . 




18 

IV. 

Mark Makes a Friend 




27 

V. 

Up a Tree . . . 




36 

VI. 

Two Boys and a Mule 




45 

VII. 

Taking in Another Partner 




54 

VIII. 

Off for the Land of Gold 




63 

IX. 

A Storm and a Washout 




72 

X. 

At Fort Laramie . 




81 

XI. 

Sag Ruff’s Threat 




90 

XII. 

Suffering from Thirst 




99 

XIII. 

A Fight with an Elk . 




108 

XIV. 

The Stealing of the Outfit 




117 

XV. 

A Snake, a Deer, and a Surprise 



126 

XVI. 

Getting Back the Outfit . 




134 

XVII. 

Among the Indians 




143 

XVIII. 

Si Takes a Tumble 




152 

XIX. 

A Gloomy Outlook 




161 

XX. 

At the Trading Camp . 



R 

M 

XXI. 

Another Brush with the Indians 



179 

XXII. 

The Coming of Spring . 




187 

XXIII. 

Nuggets of Value 




195 




V 


VI 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 


PAGE 

XXIV. 

The Results of a Cave-in 

. 204 

XXV. 

The Man from Philadelphia . 

. 212 

XXVI. 

Mark’s Sickness 

. 222 

XXVII. 

The Disappearance of Maybe Dixon 

. 231 

XXVIII. 

Striking a Bonanza .... 

. 240 

XXIX. 

A Fortune in Nuggets 

. 248 

XXX. 

The Landslide 

. 257 

XXXI. 

A Crushing Loss .... 

. 266 

XXXII. 

The Trail of the Gold Thieves 

. 275 

XXXIII. 

Brought to Bay— Conclusion . 

. 287 


PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD 
FIELDS 

CHAPTER I 

MARK AND HIS DIFFICULTIES 

“I wonder if this report can be true, Carl?” 

“What report, Mark?” 

“This report in the newspapers that great nug- 
gets of gold are to be found in California,” re- 
plied Mark Radley. He pointed to the sheet he 
had been perusing. “Here is an account of a 
miner picking up ten thousand dollars’ worth of 
nuggets in two days, and another account of a 
gold hunter washing out six thousand dollars’ 
worth of dust in a week. I declare it’s enough to 
make a fellow’s mouth water just to think about 
it!” 

“Beats working in a musty law office all to bits, 
eh?” was Carl Felmore’s remark, and he uttered a 


PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


short laugh. “I’ll wager the reports are false, 
Mark,” he added. “Why, if there was so much 
gold in California the Spaniards out there would 
have gotten it long before Uncle Sam took pos- 
session of the country.” 

“Here are names and dates,” answered Mark, 
with a serious shake of his head. “If the reports 
are false, I don’t see how they got those.” 

“Even if the reports are true, I don’t think I’d 
care to go away out to California for the gold,” 
resumed Carl, who was a bit of a coward. “Why, 
it’s three thousand miles from Philadelphia, and 
you’d have to either go out on horseback most of 
the way, or take a steamer or a sailboat to the 
Isthmus of Panama and then up the gold coast, 
or else go clear around Cape Horn! You don’t 
catch me making such a trip as that !” 

“It would just suit me,” cried Mark, enthu- 
siastically. “I’d take a trip to the moon if I could 
get there. I’d like the sport ” 

“Never mind taking a trip to the moon, young 
man!” broke in a harsh voice at Mark’s back. 
“Just get to work and leave California alone. 
Have you finished that copying I gave you yester- 
day ?” 

“Not yet, Mr. Powers,” answered Mark. “But 
I’ll have it done in half an hour.” 

“Good-by, Mark,” came from Carl Felmore, 


MARK AND HIS DIFFICULTIES 3 

and he slipped out of the office without another 
word. 

“I don’t want that Felmore boy hanging 
around here,” cried Jadell Powers, wrathfully. 
“After this he must keep away.” 

“He brought over some legal papers for Cross & 
Barwick,” answered Mark, quietly. He saw that 
his step-father was not in an agreeable frame of 
mind. 

“Oh ! Well, he needn’t hang around, even so,” 
grumbled Jadell Powers, but in a more subdued 
tone of voice. “Hurry up with those papers. I 
must get to court by ten o’clock and it’s now half- 
past nine.” 

“Fll hurry all I can,” answered Mark. 

“You were out late last night,” went on the 
lawyer, after a moment of silence. 

“Only until ten o’clock. I went to a concert 
given by the college boys.” 

“Humph ! A fine way to waste your money.” 

“It was my own money,” answered Mark, with 
spirit. 

“Nevertheless, you had no need to throw it 
away, young man. But don’t talk now — get 
through with those papers,” and the lawyer 
turned away, and departed for a nearby court. 

Mark Radley was a lad of sixteen, tall, broad- 
shouldered, and rather good-looking, with brown 


4 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

eyes and curly brown hair. He was an orphan, 
his father having died when he was but five years 
old and his mother departing this life when the 
boy was fourteen. Mark had had two sisters, but 
both had died when quite young. 

When Mark was ten years of age, Mrs. Radley 
had met and married Jadell Powers, a man ten 
years her senior, and known in Philadelphia as a 
fairly successful lawyer. Powers was a widower, 
having one son, who had run away from home 
when out of grammar school. Those who had 
dealings with him knew him to be very irritable 
and a good deal of a miser, but Mrs. Radley knew 
nothing of his shortcomings until they were mar- 
ried several months. Then her eyes were opened, 
and for four years — up to the day of her death — 
she suffered much, but always in silence. 

Almost from the start, Mark could not get 
along with his step-father, and boy and man had 
more than one open quarrel and on three different 
occasions the youth was on the point of running 
away, but the presence of his mother deterred 
him. 

When Mrs. Radley died Mark felt he was free, 
but much to his consternation he was given to 
understand that his mother had made no will and 
that his step-father had legal rights in the prop- 
erty which could not be ignored. By slick 


MARK AND HIS DIFFICULTIES 5 

management Jadell Powers had himself made 
Mark’s guardian. 

“You must toe the mark after this, young 
man,” said the lawyer, after matters had been ad- 
justed. Then he took Mark out of high school 
and made the boy enter his law office, although 
Mark did not take to a legal calling in the slightest 
degree. 

“I wish I had hold of my money, I’d travel a 
bit before settling down,” Mark told his friend 
Carl. But Mark got hold of very little cash, and 
so had to stick at the office grind, week in and 
week out, winter and summer. Once in a great- 
while he slipped away — to play ball or go fish- 
ing — but this always brought on a good scolding 
from his step-father. 

“Boys nowadays want to play, they don’t want 
to work,” grumbled Jadell Powers. And then he 
would give Mark copying and other work to do 
that would keep the lad busy until nine or ten 
o’clock at night. 

Two days before the opening of this story the 
boy and his step-father had had some hot words 
concerning several legal documents which Mark 
had copied. Mr. Powers had given directions to 
have them transcribed in a certain way. Mark 
had followed directions, and then the lawyer said 
that was not the way at all. In his rage Jadell 


6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


Powers had threatened to thrash Mark and had 
taken up a book to throw at the boy’s head. But 
Mark had stood his ground. 

“You hit me and I’ll hit you!” he cried, pale 
with resentment, and the look in Mark’s eye made 
the lawyer drop the volume on his desk. There 
the quarrel rested, but it was not settled by any 
means. 

Mark was so busy copying the papers which 
had been given to him that he had no time to 
think of his troubles, but once his step-father 
was gone a look of disgust crossed the boy’s 
face. 

“I’m just about as sick of this as a fellow can 
be !” he murmured, as he walked across the office, 
to gaze out of the window to the street below. 
“It’s getting worse and worse every day! I 
really can’t see how I’m going to stand it much 
longer! I wish I was a thousand miles from 
here !” 

The office was a small affair, fronting on one of 
the main streets of Philadelphia. Next to it was 
another apartment, in which were located Mr. 
Powers’ private desk and his safe — the latter an 
old-fashioned affair and scarcely fireproof. 

As Mark gazed out of the window he saw a 
commotion in the street — coming from a restau- 
rant on the corner. Then the cry of fire was 


MARK AND HIS DIFFICULTIES 


7 


raised, and soon a crowd gathered, while a dozen 
people ran from the burning building. 

“A fire! I must see it!” cried the lad. He 
was dying for a little excitement, and rushed out 
of the office, slamming the door after him. He 
hurried downstairs and outside, and soon joined 
the crowd in the street. 

In those days — it was but the year 1848 — fire 
engines were not what they are to-day, and it took 
some time for them to reach the locality of the 
conflagration. But fortunately, the fire did not 
amount to much, and in half an hour it was out 
and the crowd dispersed as rapidly as it had 
gathered. 

“Phew! I’ll have to get back to the office — 
somebody may come in on business!” Mark told 
himself, and he ran back to the building with all 
speed. As he hurried up the stairs, he met a man 
coming down — a tall, slim individual, with a 
clean-shaven face. 

“Excuse me, were you looking for Mr. 
Powers?” asked the boy. He had never seen the 
man before. 

“No,” was the quick answer. “I got into the 
wrong building. I was looking for No. 324,” 
and without saying more the stranger descended 
quickly to the lower hall and disappeared into 
the street. 


8 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


“He is certainly in a hurry,” thought Mark, 
and soon reached the door to the office — to find 
it standing wide open. “Humph! I thought I 
shut this,” he added, as he entered. 

Everything seemed to be as he had left it, and 
having taken a look around, he began some more 
copying, keeping this up until half-past twelve, 
when his step-father returned and allowed him to 
go to dinner. 

“I want you to copy these papers this after- 
noon, Mark,” said Jadell Powers, when the boy 
returned. “Mind, I want the work done nicely, 
and don’t leave it until it is all finished.” 

Mark took the papers and looked them over. 
There were many pages of fine writing. 

“I can’t get these done to-day !” he cried. 

“Yes, you can !” 

“They’ll take until to-morrow noon, sir. There 
are eighteen pages in this, and six pages of 
that ” 

“I want no back talk, young man!” stormed 
Jadell Powers. “You’ll have those done by to- 
night. If not, I’ll have an account to settle with 
you !” And he shook his fist at the boy. 

Mark’s temper was none of the best and his 
face reddened. Then, seized by a mood he* could 
not control, he dashed the legal documents to the 
floor. 


MARK AND HIS DIFFICULTIES 


9 


“ I won’t copy your old papers!” he cried. 
“You can copy them yourself !” 

“What’s that?” screamed Jadell Powers, and of 
a sudden he made a leap for Mark. But the 
youth was too quick for him. Catching up his 
cap, he ran for the door, banging the barrier in 
his step-father’s face. Then he leaped down the 
stairs, three steps at a time, and reaching the 
street, hurried up the block and around a corner 
as fast as his legs could carry him. 


CHAPTER II 


NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA 

“Well, I wonder what I am to do next?” 

It was Mark who asked himself that question. 
He was sitting in one of the public parks of the 
city. He had walked rapidly for the best part 
of an hour and was almost exhausted. 

“I’ll bet Mr. Powers is as mad as sixteen hor- 
nets,” he mused. “He will want to skin me 
alive — if he catches me. But he isn’t going to 
catch me just yet. I’d rather run away than fall 
into his clutches ! How he did glare at me when 
I threw down those documents! I rather guess 
I’d best not go back.” 

Mark sat still for a few minutes and then 
heaved a deep sigh. Never had he felt so utterly 
alone as now. He had no relatives to turn to in 
his troubles. 

“What’s the matter; out of a job?” asked a man 
sitting by. He had heard Mark sigh. 

“Not exactly,” answered the boy, and to avoid 


NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA zz 

being questioned further, he arose and moved 
away. 

He walked through the park and a little later 
found himself standing in front of a newspaper 
office. 

‘‘All about the news from Califomy!” cried a 
newsboy with a bundle of papers. “Millions of 
dollars bein’ picked up! People going by the 
thousands to the gold fields !” 

“Give me a paper!” cried Mark, without stop- 
ping to think twice. He handed out the price 
and then began to look at the news from the Far 
West. It was most alluring, and many stopped 
on the streets to read all the details. 

“Wisht I could go to Californy !” said the news- 
boy to Mark. “Pickin’ up gold is better’n sellin’ 
papers, ain’t it ?” 

“I should say so!” answered Mark, and moved 
on slowly. “Maybe I’ll go!” he continued. 

“Wish yer luck,” returned the newsboy, gayly, 
and darted off to dispose of the rest of his papers. 

The news was certainly fascinating, and it is 
small wonder that it caused such wild excitement. 
Rich and poor alike read the wonderful accounts, 
and day after day men streamed westward over- 
land, or departed by vessel for Panama, or for 
the longer trip around Cape Horn. 

“What a trip it would be!” murmured Mark, 


12 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

after the reading of the account was finished. 
“I declare, I do feel like going. And what’s to 
hinder me?” 

He straightened up and a strange look filled his 
face. Mark was naturally impulsive, but when 
he made up his mind to do a thing he usually did 
it. 

“Mr. Powers doesn’t care for me, and there is 
nothing to hold me back,” he told himself. “Yes, 
I might as well go! The first people on the 
ground are sure to get the richest nuggets ! Who 
knows but what I may make my fortune! Ho, 
for the West !” 

A smile of enthusiasm broke out on his face 
and he quickened his pace. But then he grew 
thoughtful. He had only seven dollars that he 
could call his own and six dollars of the amount 
was at his home, two miles away. 

“I’d better get my money and some clothes 
before Mr. Powers goes home,” he reasoned. “If 
he catches me, there ’ll be too much music to suit 
me!” 

In those days there were no trolley cars, only 
dingy stages running to where Mark wished to 
go. He hopped aboard one of these, paid his 
fare, and was soon set down at the right corner. 

“Why, you are back early, Master Mark,” said 
the housekeeper, who saw him enter. 


NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA 13 

“Yes, Mrs. Nason. I’m going on a journey. 
Mr. Powers hasn’t got back yet, has he?” 

“No, I don’t expect him before his regular time, 
half-past six.” 

The housekeeper wanted to question him fur- 
ther, but he ran up to his room. He had a valise 
which had belonged to his mother, and into this 
he placed such clothing as he wished to take 
along. Then he brought out his money, a watch 
that had been his father’s, and some jewelry that 
had belonged to Mrs. Radley. 

“I may have to sell- some of those things before 
I reach the Land of Gold,” he thought. “But I’ll 
not dispose of them until I actually have to.” 

When he went below, he found the housekeeper 
waiting for him. 

“So you are going on a journey,” she said. 
“May I ask where to, Master Mark?” 

“I’m sorry, but I cannot tell you,” he answered, 
briefly. “To tell the truth, Mrs. Nason, I don’t 
want my step-father to know.” 

“Oh !” The housekeeper grew doubly inter- 
ested. “Do you mean to say you are going to 
run away ?” 

“I don’t think I’ll run very much.” 

“You must have had another quarrel.” 

“We are quarreling all the time. I can’t stand 
his ways, Mrs. Nason.” 


i 4 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I don’t blame you, Master Mark. He is a ter- 
rible hard man to get along with. Maybe he 
means well, but, but ” 

“If he does, he doesn’t show it. I must be off, 
for I don’t want to meet him. Good-by.” He 
held out his hand. 

“Good-by, and good-luck, no matter where 
you go! But you must come back some day! 
The property is yours, remember that!” 

“Oh, I’ll remember, and I’ll come back,” an- 
swered Mark, and gave her a smile. 

“And one thing more, Master Mark,” the 
housekeeper continued, in a lower tone. “If you 
need money, I have some saved, and ” 

“Thank you, Mrs. Nason, you are very kind. 
But I don’t want any but my own.” 

“If you do, write, and I’ll send you some,” she 
continued. 

“Thank you very much.” 

“And if you get into trouble, let me know, and 
I’ll do what I can for you.” 

“Perhaps I’ll send you a letter some day. But 
you mustn’t show it to Mr. Powers.” 

“I’ll do as you wish, Master Mark.” 

Mark put on his cap and turned towards the 
front door. Soon he was outside and hurrying 
towards the front gate. As he opened it he found 
himself face to face with his step-father. 


NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA 


*5 


“Ha! I thought you might be here!” roared 
Jadell Powers. “Fve caught you nicely!” He 
grabbed the youth by the arm. “What are you 
doing with that bag?” 

“It’s my bag, and I am going away !” retorted 
Mark. “Let go of me !” 

“Let go? Not much, young man! I have 
caught you red-handed !” 

“I don’t know what you mean by red-handed,” 
said Mark, doggedly. “I am going away and 
that is all there is to it. You shan’t stop me!” 

“If you talk like that, do you know what I’ll 
do?” stormed Jadell Powers. “I’ll hand you 
over to the police !” 

“You have no right to do that.” 

“Yes, I have!” 

“You have not. I have done no wrong. You 
want to make a regular slave of me, but I won’t 
stand it. I’m going to strike out for myself.” 

“Tut ! tut, a fine way for a boy of your age to 
speak! You ought to be in a — a reformatory 
this minute! This is what I get for trying to 
make a man of you !” 

“I don’t want to be a lawyer, and I’m not going 
to copy legal documents all day long,” answered 
Mark, as determinedly as ever. 

“You’ll be what I want you to be !” 

“It takes two to make a bargain, Mr. Powers. 


1 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


Ever since my mother died you have tried to rule 
over me with a rod of iron. But I won’t stand it. 
I’m going away and I’ll take care of myself, until 
I am of age. Then I’ll come back and claim what 
belongs to me.” 

"Humph!” The lawyer paused for a second. 
“Where do you calculate to go?” he questioned, 
curiously. 

“That is my business.” 

“Maybe you want to take that trip to the moon, 
or to California, eh?” 

“I’ve heard there are good chances for a boy in 
New York and Boston,” said Mark, to throw his 
step-father off the scent. 

“Tut! tut! There are just as good chances 
right here in Philadelphia. Remember the old 
saying, ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss.’ ” 

“I don’t want to gather moss; I want to do as 
the rolling stone does, get polished,” answered 
Mark, grimly. 

“If you stay in Philadelphia and behave 
yourself, I’ll try my best to make a man of 
you.” 

“Mr. Powers, we can’t get along together — 
you know that as well as I do. Ever since 
mother died we have quarreled. I can’t stand it 
any longer, — and so I am going away.” 

“Humph !” 


NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA 17 

“You can sneer if you wish — but I am going 
away, — and I’ll do the best I can for myself.” 

“Going away to have a good time, I suppose. 
As soon as your money is gone you’ll be back on 
my hands.” 

“No, I won’t be back.” 

“Well, you shan’t go away with my money,” 
and now the lawyer tightened his grip on his step- 
son’s arm. 

“Your money?” came from Mark. “What lit- 
tle I have is my own.” 

“Really?” And Jadell Powers’ face took on a 
sour look. 

“Yes, really. I’ve only got seven dollars, but 
every penny of that I saved myself — out of the 
little spending money you allow me, and out of 
what I got when I sold that old sled and pair of 
skates I had.” 

“Mark, you’re a cute rascal, but your story 
won’t hold water. You’ve got three hundred 
dollars that belongs to me !” 

“Three hundred dollars?” gasped the youth, in 
amazement. 

“Yes, three hundred dollars — which you took 
from my safe this very morning!” cried Jadell 
Powers. “I want you to hand the money over 
instantly. If you don’t, I’ll call an officer of the 
law and have you locked up!” 


CHAPTER III 


MARK RUNS AWAY 

For the moment after his step-father had an- 
nounced that he had lost three hundred dollars 
Mark was so dumfounded that he could not speak. 

‘T — you — Did you lose three hundred dollars ?” 
he gasped, at last. 

“Yes, I did. And you’ve got the money,” re- 
turned Jadell Powers. 

“Mr. Powers, I haven’t a cent of that money. 
In fact, I didn’t know you had three hundred dol- 
lars in the safe.” 

“I know better. I put the money in there yes- 
terday, and you were there when I did it.” 

“Perhaps I was there, but I didn’t see you 
handle any money. Are you sure it was stolen ?” 

“Of course I am.” 

“Didn’t you lock the safe door?” 

“Yes, but the safe is old and anybody could get 
it open by trying. Come, Mark, confess and give 
back the money. If you don’t, you know what I 
said.” 

18 


MARK RUNS AWAY 


19 


The youth did not listen to the words. He was 
thinking of the stranger he had met on the stairs, 
when returning from the fire. Could that in- 
dividual be the thief? 

“Mark, do you hear me?” stormed Jadell 
Powers. “Tell me where that money is this in- 
stant !” 

“I don’t know where it is. But I think I know 
who took it.” 

“Was there anybody else in the office?” 

“I think so, although I am not sure. Did you 
hear about the fire in Koster’s bakery?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, when the fire broke out I ran downstairs 
to see what was the matter. I stayed down in the 
street a while. When I started to come back to 
the office I met a strange man coming down the 
stairs. I asked him if he wanted to see you. He 
said no, and said he had gotten into the wrong 
building. He got out into the street in a terrible 
hurry.” 

“Tut, tut, young man ! Do you expect me to 
believe such a cock-and-bull story as that? Not 
I ! Just you hand over that money, or I’ll call a 
policeman without delay.” 

Mark gazed at his step-father in horror. Evi- 
dently the close-fisted lawyer meant just what he 
said, and the youth had a dim mental vision of 


20 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

being dragged to prison and of being convicted of 
an awful crime. 

“I haven’t got the money, and I don’t intend to 
be locked up !” he burst out, and with a dexterous 
twist he freed himself from his step-father’s 
grasp and bounded down the street. 

“Stop! Stop!” yelled Jadell Powers. “Stop, 
I say ! Somebody stop him ! He’s a thief !” 

He ran after the boy, but Mark was a swift 
runner and soon put a goodly distance between 
himself and his pursuer. Fortunately, no other 
people were close at hand, and by the time some 
men and boys joined in the chase, Mark was three 
squares away and still running like a frightened 
deer. 

“He shan’t catch me !” he muttered to himself, 
as he kept up his running. 

He was somewhat hampered by his valise, 
which was heavy, and on reaching a street where 
ran a line of stages, he jumped aboard a passing 
vehicle. As the driver was behind time, he 
whipped up his horses, and before long Mark was 
a good mile from home. Nobody seemed to be in 
pursuit and this caused him to breathe a sigh of 
relief. 

Yet the youth felt strangely depressed. Con- 
trary to his expectations, he was leaving home 
under a heavy cloud. 


MARK RUNS AWAY 


21 


“Unless the real thief is caught, Mr. Powers 
will always think I took that money,” he reasoned, 
dismally. “Perhaps I am to blame, too, for I left 
the office during business hours and forgot to lock 
the door.” 

At last Mark found himself in the shipping dis- 
trict of the city. It was growing dark, and the 
majority of the business people had taken them- 
selves to their homes. As the stage came to a 
corner, he alighted and stared around him, not 
knowing where to go next. 

“I guess I had better get out of town,” he told 
himself. “Mr. Powers will be after me hot- 
footed to-night and in the morning. Three hun- 
dred dollars looks like a fortune to him. And it 
is a big sum of money. Wish I had it for my 
own ! I’d start West right away, and ride all the 
way, too!” 

An hour later found Mark on the way out of 
town. Strange as it may seem, he fell in with a 
man who was driving ten horses which had just 
come in on a boat. The man wanted to know the 
way to the village of Chesbrook. 

“I know the way,” said the boy, quickly. “Let 
me ride one of the horses and I’ll show you.” 

“If you want to go to Chesbrook, hop up,” an- 
swered the man, and in a moment Mark was in 
the saddle for the twenty-mile journey. 


22 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I haven’t got much money and I want to save 
all I can,” explained Mark. 

“Horseback traveling is good enough for me,” 
answered the man. “I hate a stage coach, an’ 
them railroad trains is too plaguety risky. I 
rode in one once an’ I felt sure we was goin’ to be 
killed ev’ry minit!” 

“Then you don’t belong in the East?” 

“No, I belong out to Hankertown, in the west- 
ern part o’ the State.” 

“Are you going that far?” 

“Yes, after a day’s stop at Chesbrook.” - 

“Going to take the horses along?” 

“Four of ’em. The others are for a man at 
Chesbrook.” 

“Then maybe you won’t mind if I ride to 
Hankertown with you,” went on Mark, after 
pausing in thought. 

“Oh, are you goin’ West?” 

“Yes — if I can get there.” 

“Say, you ain’t goin’ to try for Californy?” 
cried the man, with added interest. 

“Perhaps — I haven’t made up my mind exactly. 
Maybe I’ll get tired of the trip after I’ve been on 
the road a while.” 

“I’d like to take the trip to Californy myself. 
But I don’t know as I can git away. I’ve been 
away from hum a good spell already.” 


MARK RUNS AWAY 


23 


It was well on towards midnight when Ches- 
brook was reached. It was only a small village, 
with a small square building that went by the 
name of hotel. Here the man put up for the 
night, and Mark did the same, the boy paying 
“four shillings” — fifty cents — for his bed and 
breakfast in the morning. 

By ten o’clock the man with the horses had 
transacted his business at the village and he and 
Mark began their journey further westward. It 
was a clear day and a night’s rest had put the boy 
in fine condition physically, although he was still 
worried, fearing that his step-father might be on 
his track. 

Towards the middle of the afternoon Mark and 
Jed Dickson — such was the man’s name — came to 
a fork in the road. 

“Which is the right road?” questioned the boy, 
as he drew rein. 

“I allow as how the road to the right is right,” 
answered Jed Dickson. 

They turned in that direction, but scarcely had 
they covered half a mile when they saw that the 
road was very poor and that there had been no 
traveling upon it for several days. 

“This looks like a side road to me,” observed 
Mark. 

“Reckon you’re correct,” answered the man. 


24 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

He scratched his head. “Ain’t nothin’ to do but 
to go back.” 

“Wait, I hear talking!” went on Mark. 
“Somebody must be coming. Perhaps we can 
find out which way to go.” 

They waited and heard two persons coming 
along, each on horseback. One was a burly fel- 
low of fifty, with a heavy beard, and the other a 
youth of Mark’s age, dressed in a sailor suit. 

“Say, messmate, it looks to me like we were on 
the wrong tack,” came from the sailor boy, as he 
drew rein just around a bend from where Mark 
and Jed Dickson were waiting. 

“Oh, we’re all right,” came from the burly 
man. “By the way, how much money did you 
say you had with you?” he continued. 

“One hundred and forty dollars — and I don’t 
want to lose it, either.” 

“Let me carry it for you, lad.” 

“No, I’ll carry it myself. And I reckon I’ll go 
back,” went on the sailor boy. 

“You’ll hand that money over to me,” cried the 
burly man. 

“What, would you rob me?” gasped the youth. 

“I want that money, and I am bound to have 
it,” came coolly from the burly individual. “We 
are alone out here, so it won’t help you to make a 
fuss about it.” 


MARK RUNS AWAY 


25 


“You brought me here to rob me!” cried the 
sailor boy. “I thought something was wrong. 
Well, you ain’t going to rob me just yet. Get up 
there !” The last words to his horse. 

“Stop!” roared the burly man, and urging his 
own steed forward he caught the other horse. 
“That money, I say, or I’ll ” 

“Hi! leave him alone!” cried Mark, riding for- 
ward. “Leave him alone, you villain !” 

“We don’t allow no highway robbery in these 
parts,” sang out Jed Dickson. 

Both came up alongside of the burly fellow, 
who drew back in commingled alarm and disgust. 

“Hullo — friends!” sang out the sailor boy, joy- 
fully. “Here’s luck for me sure !” 

“And no luck for me !” growled the burly man, 
and urging his steed around, he disappeared back 
of some bushes and was gone. 

“Do you know that man?” asked Mark. 

“Never clapped eyes on him until this morn- 
ing,” answered the other boy. “He said he would 
show me the way to Hopeville, but I guess he 
wanted to get me in some lonely spot and then 
rob me. You two came up in the nick of time, — 
and I’m mighty glad of it !” He gave Mark and 
Jed Dickson a grateful look. 

“Where did you come from?” asked Dickson. 

“From Philadelphia. You see, I’m just ashore 


2 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS ' 

from a whaling voyage/’ was the answer. “I 
got tired of the sea and thought I’d try it on land 
for a spell. I’ve got an old aunt living at Hope- 
ville and I allowed I’d pay her a visit. My name 
is Bob Billings. Who are you?” 

“I am Mark Radley.” 

“And I am Jed Dickson. Don’t you want to 
go after that rascal?” 

“I don’t reckon we can catch him, for he’ll do 
his best to keep out of sight,” answered Bob Bill- 
ings. “I was a fool to let him know what money 
I was carrying with me. I got paid off four days 
ago, and I thought if my aunt needed anything 
I’d let her have some of the cash. She’s the only 
relative I’ve got in the world.” 


CHAPTER IV 


MARK MAKES A FRIEND 

Mark soon discovered that Bob Billings was 
a light-hearted chap who took matters as they 
came, without making much fuss about things. 

“I should have been mad if that man had 
robbed me,” said the sailor boy. “But as he didn’t 
get my money I’m going to drop the matter. But 
if I ever meet him again I’ll give him a black eye, 
or else my name isn’t Bob!’’ 

“Hopeville is on the road we want to take,” 
said Jed Dickson. “An’ such bein’ the case, we 
may as well travel together for a spell;” and so 
it was agreed. 

As they journeyed along Bob Billings told 
much about himself. His parents had died while 
he was young, and he had been turned over to the 
care of an old sea captain who had taken him on 
several trips to Cuba and Porto Rico. Then the 
captain had died and Bob had shipped for the 
whaling voyage just mentioned. But whaling 
had not suited him and he said he was now going 


28 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

to stay ashore for some time and perhaps for 
good. 

“Sailoring isn’t what it is cracked up to be,” 
said he. “The grub is poor and the hands are 
sometimes treated like dogs. I’ll have to get the 
fever pretty bad before I go to sea again.” 

“I never had any desire to go to sea,” said 
Mark. “I’d rather make my fortune on land.” 

“Where are you bound?” 

“I’ve got a notion to strike out for California. 
But it’s a long journey.” 

“You’re right there. Heard about the gold, I 
suppose ?” 

“Yes.” 

“I heard about that myself. I met one man in 
Philadelphia who was crazy on the subject. He 
sold almost the shirt off his back to get money 
enough to buy a ticket on a steamer for Panama.” 

“I’d rather go overland — I think it would be 
more fun.” 

“You’ll have the Rocky Mountains to climb,” 
put in Jed Dickson. “Won’t be no fun in that — 
especially if you’re out there in the winter time!” 

“Oh, I don’t mind the cold so much.” 

“I’ve been thinking of going to California my- 
self,” resumed Bob Billings. “But I want to see 
how old Aunt Betsey is first. Maybe she will 
want me to stay with her for a spell. She didn’t 


MARK MAKES A FRIEND 


29 


use to care for me, but maybe she is changed 
now.” 

Hope vi lie was reached about supper time, and 
Mark and Jed Dickson put up at the local tavern, 
while Bob Billings went off to find his aunt, whom 
he had not seen in three years. 

“He’s a nice sort,” said Mark. “If I went to 
California I’d like to have him along.” 

An hour passed and they were just finishing 
their supper when the sailor boy reappeared. His 
face wore a sober look. 

“I’ve had bad news,” said he, dropping into a 
chair. “My aunt died nearly a year ago. They 
sent me a letter about it, but it never reached me.” 

“That’s hard luck,” said Mark, sympathetically. 

“Did she leave any money?” questioned the 
matter-of-fact Dickson. 

“Left about a hundred dollars, so they tell me, 
and that was used to pay her funeral expenses. 
They sold off her things, and a lawyer is keeping 
about another hundred in trust for me. But I’d 
rather Aunt Betsey was alive. Now I’m utterly 
alone in the world.” 

Bob Billings put up at the hotel, going into a 
room with Mark. Before retiring the two be- 
came quite confidential. 

“So you’re running away,” said Bob, on hear- 
ing Mark’s story. “Well, I don’t blame you, if 


3 o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

your step-father is that sort. I’d cut sticks my- 
self. I hope you make your pile, if you ever reach 
California/’ 

“Don’t you want to go, now you are all alone?” 

“Yes, I do, and there’s my hand on it !” 

The boys shook hands warmly — and from that 
moment they were chums. They talked over 
many things, and Mark confessed that he had but 
five dollars and a quarter left of the amount with 
which he had started. 

“Never mind, I’ve got quite a pile,” answered 
Bob. 

“But I don’t want to sponge on you, Bob.” 

“I’ll make you a loan of twenty-five dollars,” 
replied the sailor boy, producing the money. “I 
haven’t forgotten how you saved me from being 
robbed. If it hadn’t been for you and Dickson 
I’d be penniless.” 

“Well, I’ll take the money as a loan — when 
what I have on hand is gone,” answered Mark. 

It was decided that Mark should remain at 
Hopeville with Bob for a few days, and in the 
morning the two boys bid good-by to Jed Dick- 
son. As a keepsake, and for his kindness in as- 
sisting Bob, the sailor boy presented Dickson with 
a fancy watch charm, for which the man was very 
thankful. 

“Hope we meet again some day,” said Dickson 


MARK MAKES A FRIEND 


3i 


to both boys. “ Maybe in the gold diggings, 

eh?” 

“Perhaps,” answered Mark. As yet, Cali- 
fornia seemed a long way off. 

During the day Bob saw the lawyer who had 
the money left by the sailor boy’s aunt. There 
was a little trouble about getting the lawyer to 
turn the money over to Bob — he not being of 
age — but finally the matter was straightened out 
and Bob found himself exactly ninety-five dollars 
richer than before. 

“Now, take my advice and be careful of your 
cash,” said the lawyer. 

“I’m going to California,” answered Bob. 
“And I’m going to take my friend here with me.” 

“Indeed ! It’s a long trip for boys !” 

“I guess we’ll get through somehow,” said Bob, 
lightly. 

When the two boys were by themselves, Bob 
insisted that Mark should carry exactly half the 
money. 

“If we are going to be partners, you’ve got to 
shoulder half the responsibility,” said the sailor 
boy. 

“Partners it is!” cried Mark. “Say, Bob, 
you’re the right sort, and I like you tremen- 
dously !” 

“And I like you. Shake! We’re partners 


% 


32 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

from this minute forward. If we reach Cali- 
fornia and get any gold ” 

“It’s share and share alike,” finished Mark. 
'‘I hope we get a ton or two of nuggets !” 

“A ton! You don’t want much ! Why didn’t 
you say ten tons while you were about it? Now 
I’d like to find a nugget about as big as — 


“Your head,” finished Mark. 

“Well, that would be plenty large enough, I’m 
certain.” 

On the next day the journey westward was 
resumed. They went partly by stage and then 
struck a coal road and got a “lift” on one of the 
cars. After that came a journey on one of the 
streams flowing into the Ohio. Then they got 
aboard a flatboat bound for the Mississippi. 

“This is something like,” said Bob, as they 
watched the boat glide along. The flatboat was 
of fair size and carried twenty or thirty passen- 
gers. The deckhands were negroes and they 
sang as they worked. The furnace on the craft 
burnt wood, and they often had to make a landing 
at a yard along the river bank, to get fresh fuel 
aboard. 

They were making one of these landings when 
the two boys saw a lively discussion going on be- 
tween two men. One was trying to sell a good- 


MARK MAKES A FRIEND 


33 

sized scow to the other for ten dollars. The 
other man, however, wanted to give only five 
dollars. 

“Say, we might take that scow!” cried Mark. 
“We could easily float down to the Mississippi in 
it and then sell it at Cairo, or some other point. 
We could take provisions along, and such travel- 
ing would be very cheap.” 

“Let’s do it !” cried Bob. The idea of navigat- 
ing a craft of their own appealed to him, in spite 
of the fact that he wanted no more of life on the 
ocean. 

They went ashore, and after a few minutes’ talk 
bought the scow for eight dollars. Then, from a 
nearby farmer, they procured some provisions, 
and by nightfall were on their way westward once 
more. 

“Let’s call the scow Eldorado ,” cried Mark. 
“And you are now Captain Bob.” 

“What does Eldorado mean ?” questioned Bob. 
“I hear them talking of California as an Eldo- 
rado.” 

“It means Golden — the Land of Gold,” an- 
swered Mark. 

“Well, this scow isn’t golden — it’s mud-color, 
Mark.” 

“Oh, I was only getting poetic, Bob.” 

“All right then, Eldorado it is, and if I’m to be 


34 


PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


captain you’ll have to be first mate and the whole 
crew,” came from Bob, merrily. 

The scow was provided with a mast and a sail, 
and, the wind being favorable, they put up the 
sheet, Bob showing Mark how to fasten it in true 
nautical style. There was a long sweep at the 
stern for a rudder, and the sailor boy sat by it, 
to keep the scow to her course down the river. 

“We’ll have to go ashore when we want to cook 
food,” said Mark. “We won’t dare to make a 
fire on board.” 

“Well, what’s the odds? Our time is our 
own.” 

“That’s true, too.” 

“I shouldn’t mind making the whole trip in 
this scow.” 

Two days went by and they made rapid prog- 
ress down the Ohio. They had some trouble at 
the rapids, but nothing serious. Then came a day 
of mist and rain. 

“This isn’t so pleasant,” observed the sailor 
boy. “We ought to hang out a danger signal, 
or we may run into something.” 

It soon began to thunder and lighten, and fear- 
ing the craft might be struck, they ran up to 
the river bank and tied fast. Scarcely had this 
been accomplished than the water came down in a 
perfect flood. 


MARK MAKES A FRIEND 


35 


They had already covered their provisions with 
the sail, and now they did what they could to keep 
the goods from getting soaked. The rain con- 
tinued to come down, and to protect themselves 
they hurried away to where a clump of trees af- 
forded something of a shelter. Here they re- 
mained the best part of an hour, when the wind 
shifted and the storm cleared away rapidly, along 
with the mist. 

“Let us get back to the boat,” said Mark, and 
started out, followed by Bob. The river bank 
was soon reached and they gazed around them in 
consternation. The scow was gone ! 


CHAPTER V 


UP A TREE 

“Somebody has taken our boat, Bob !” 

“It looks like it, Mark, but I didn’t see any- 
body,” answered the sailor boy, gazing up and 
down the river in perplexity. 

“The mist must have hidden the person from 
view,” went on Mark. 

“Did you tie the craft fast?” 

“No, I left that to you!” 

“And I left it to you !” 

“Well, I never! In that case neither of us tied 
her up.” 

“And she has simply floated away!” came with 
a groan. “Say, I ought to be kicked well for 
this!” 

“Let us hurry along the bank — perhaps we can 
catch up with the scow.” 

Without more ado the two lads walked along 
the bank, over the grass and rocks and then 
around a patch of tall brushwood. In the un- 

36 


UP A TREE 


37 


certain light Bob went down into a hole up to his 
knees. 

“Take care!” he called out, warningly. “If 
you don’t, you’ll break a leg, or your head!” 

“This is one of the delights of floating down 
the river,” replied Mark, making a wry face. 
“Oh, it’s chuck-full of fun!” 

“We’ve got to find the scow, Mark. If we 
don’t, we’ll have to go supperless, and perhaps 
tramp for miles to the next settlement.” 

“I’m just as willing to find the scow as you are, 
Bob. Come.” 

Again they went on, but with increased caution, 
for neither wished to fall into any hole. Soon 
they came to a portion of the river where heavy 
trees overhung the bank. 

“I see something around the bend!” cried 
Mark. “Unless I am mistaken, it’s the scow !” 

“You are right, Mark. But we’ll have to walk 
around a long distance to get to her. Here is a 
cove ahead.” 

They left the river bank, intending to skirt 
the cove Bob had mentioned. The brushwood 
was thick, and further on they had to pass several 
low-hanging trees. 

“Hark!” called Mark, suddenly. “Am I mis- 
taken, or did I hear a dog barking?” 

They listened, and made out the deep baying 


38 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

of a hound. Then came more baying from an- 
other hound. 

“Hounds, and they are after us!” said Bob. 
“I don’t like this. They may not be friendly.” 

“Here they come!” answered Mark, catching 
sight of the animals between the trees. “Gra- 
cious ! I believe they are bloodhounds !” 

“Up into a tree with you, quick!” said Bob, 
and ran to the nearest limb. He swung himself 
up with ease and then pulled Mark after him. 

They had scarcely reached the top of the limb 
when two bloodhounds came running up, fol- 
lowed by a third and then a fourth. They were 
ugly-looking animals, and standing at the foot of 
the tree they glared up savagely at the boys. 

“Ugh ! They mean business,” said Mark. 
“Get away from here !” And he shook his hand 
at the dogs, which made them bay loudly and 
show their teeth. 

“Come on up to the next limb,” said Bob, 
nervously. “I don’t want any of those critters to 
sample me.” And he climbed up and Mark did 
the same. 

“Bob, we’re treed.” 

“That’s so. But the presence of the dogs must 
mean that a house is near.” 

“I wish the owner of the dogs would come 
along and call them off.” 


UP A TREE 


39 


“Let us yell for help.” 

Both raised their voices and called several 
times. Then the bloodhounds bayed for half a 
minute, but no answer came back. 

“If the owner is around he isn’t paying much 
attention,” said Mark, ruefully. “I’d like to 
know what the dogs will do next.” 

“As they can’t climb the tree they’ll most likely 
stay below.” 

“Yes, but for how long?” 

“That’s a riddle I can’t answer. Maybe they’ll 
keep us here all night.” 

“If I had a pistol I’d shoot the brutes !” 

“That might get us into more trouble. For all 
we know, we may be on private property. Most 
likely we are — if there is a house near.” 

“Wish I was on that flatboat just about now.” 

“Or the scow.” 

The boys relapsed into silence, and seeing this, 
the bloodhounds took positions under the tree and 
proceeded to make themselves comfortable. 

“The imps are going to stay,” said Mark, with 
a deep sigh. “Bob, we are booked for the 
night.” 

“Yes, and in the meantime the scow may float 
further. I don’t think she is caught very tightly. 
A change in the wind, or in the flow of water, may 
loosen her once more.” 


4 o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Do you think we can fool the dogs by climbing 
into the next tree ?” 

“We can try it, but I don’t think it will work.” 

Without caution they went up to another limb 
and from this swung themselves gently into the 
next tree. They had hardly done so when the 
bloodhounds began to shift also. 

“It’s no use, they’ll follow us up every time,” 
said Mark. 

An hour went by and still the hounds kept their 
position under the trees. Once in a while one 
would place his forepaws on the tree and look up 
savagely and wistfully. 

“I really believe they’d like to make a meal of 
us,” said Bob, with a shiver. “Say, this is getting 
to California with a vengeance!” 

“Never despair!” answered Mark, hopefully. 
“I must say I’m growing sleepy.” 

“I’m sleepy myself, but I’m not going to sleep 
and fall off the tree just yet.” 

Two hours more w r ent by and all was now pitch- 
dark around them. Finding a rotten limb the 
boys broke it into pieces and hurled the sticks at 
the bloodhounds, which brought forth more bay- 
ing and more snapping of teeth. 

“They don’t mind the sticks any more than 
straws,” declared Bob. “They are too tough to 
be hurt that way.” 


UP A TREE 


4i 


“Hark!” said his companion. “I thought I 
heard somebody calling.” 

“There goes one of the dogs,” said Bob, who 
chanced to be looking downward. “I guess some- 
body must have called him !” 

“Let us shout again.” 

They did so, and kept up the calls for fully five 
minutes. Then from a distance an answer came 
back. 

“Who’s dat a-calling?” came in a rich negro 
voice. 

“We are,” answered Mark. “Two boys.” 

“Whar is you-uns ?” 

“Up a tree near the river. Our boat drifted 
away and your dogs treed us.” 

“Am dat so ? Did you say two boys ?” 

“Yes.” 

“Is you-uns armed ?” 

“If we were you’d have some dead dogs around 
here,” put in Bob. 

“What fo’ you-uns come ashoah?” asked the 
voice, and now a burly negro put in an appear- 
ance under the tree. He had a smoky barn 
lantern in one hand and a stout club in the 
other. 

“We didn’t come ashore here,” answered Mark. 
“We landed some distance above here, during the 
storm. Then our boat drifted down the stream 


42 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

and we followed along the river bank, until your 
dogs came for us.” 

“Did dem dorgs bite you-uns ?” 

“We didn’t give them the chance,” said Bob. 

“Whar you-uns gwine ?” 

“To Cairo, if we can make it.” 

A little additional talk followed, and at last the 
negro was convinced that they meant no harm. 
Then he called off the bloodhounds and chained 
them up. 

“To tell de truf, I didn’t know da was loose,” 
said he. “Colonel Racket mustah hab fogotten 
bound dem.” 

“Who is Colonel Racket ?” questioned Mark. 

“De colonel is ma mastah, sah — he owns dis 
place, sah.” 

“Is he around ?” 

“No, sah; he off to de horse races an’ won’t be 
back until day aftah to-morrow. He put me in 
charge. Whar’s dat boat you-uns dun spoke 
’bout?” 

“Out on the river somewhere — she was over 
yonder a couple of hours ago,” answered Bob. 

The negro went with them down to the shore 
and swung the smoky lantern above his head. 

“Dar’s a scow out dar,” he cried, presently. 

“That’s our boat,” cried Mark. “How can we 
get to her? Have you a rowboat?” 


UP A TREE 


43 


“Suah. Wait, I’ll git her,” said the negro, and 
ran off. Soon they saw him returning with a 
skiff. They entered the craft and in a few min- 
utes were aboard of the scow once more. To 
their delight they saw that the flat-bottom craft 
was uninjured and that their store of provisions 
was safe. 

“We might have been miles down the river, if 
it hadn’t been for your hounds,” grumbled Bob. 

“And had supper too,” put in Mark. 

“Ain’t you-uns had nuffin to eat?” 

“No.” 

“Den come up to de house, an’ I’ll git Aunt 
Katie to cook sumfin fo’ you-uns. De colonel 
always treats strangers well.” 

Having been out in the wet so long, the boys 
did not object to going where they could dry 
themselves, and making the scow fast, they fol- 
lowed the negro to the house, which stood on a rise 
of ground some distance away. The negro cook, 
Aunt Katie, had gone to bed, but she was aroused, 
and inside of half an hour had a hot supper ready, 
which the lads ate with great satisfaction. In the 
meantime they dried their clothes, so that they 
felt comfortable once more. 

“You-uns kin stay heah all night, if you-uns 
wants to,” said the negro, after consulting the 
cook. 


44 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

‘‘Thanks, we will,” said Mark, and both were 
shown to a nicely furnished bedchamber. Here 
they slept soundly until morning, and then, after 
breakfast, proceeded on their journey once more. 


CHAPTER VI 


TWO BOYS AND A MULE 

“The Mississippi at last, Mark!” 

It was Bob who uttered the cry, late one after- 
noon, some time after the events recorded in the 
last chapter. He was standing in the front of the 
scow, shading his eyes with his hand. 

“It’s a pretty big stream of water,” answered 
Mark, gazing forward curiously. He drew a 
long breath. “Bob, about one-third of our jour- 
ney to California is finished !” 

“Right you are, Mark. But I’m afraid we 
have the toughest part of the trip still before us.” 

“Do you regret starting?” 

“Not in the least, and you couldn’t hire me to 
turn back,” was the quick response. 

“Are you going to stop at Cairo?” 

“Don’t you think we had better cross the river 
instead?” 

“No, for we can’t sail the scow against such a 
strong current. We had better stick to our 
original intention and sell the craft, and then take 
45 


46 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

a steamboat from Cairo to some place up the 
Missouri.” 

During the past few days the boys had learned 
that Independence, Missouri, located not many 
miles from Kansas City, was one of the places at 
which thousands of emigrants for the West were 
gathering, with their wagons and their horses and 
cattle. It was still early in the year and the 
pioneers were waiting for the grass to grow, so 
that they might have fodder for their animals 
during the long and tedious journey overland. 

“They say it will take at least three months to 
get across the Rocky Mountains and into Cali- 
fornia,” said Mark. 

“Yes, and it may take longer — so I heard one 
man say,” returned Bob. “He said nobody would 
dare to try getting over the mountains after the 
snow began to fall. If we can’t get over by the 
first of November, we’ll have to stay on this side 
until next spring.” 

“We’ll have to get a regular outfit, — or else 
join some company going over.” 

“I’d rather have my own outfit.” 

“Oh, so would I.” 

That night they landed near Cairo — which was 
only a small place in those days. They offered 
the scow to a number of boatmen and finally dis- 
posed of the craft in a most unusual manner. 


TWO BOYS AND A MULE 


47 


'‘See heah,” said a man from Alabama, who 
sat on a mule, chewing a quid of tobacco. “If 
you’re out fer a trade — I’m with yer. I allowed 
I was gwine to Californy on th’ back o’ this mule. 
But I’ve changed my mind an’ I’m gwine home. 
If ye want to swap the scow fer the mule speak 
up; an’ if ye don’t, hold yer peace. Washington 
Gossnacker has spoken.” 

“Let’s take him up,” whispered Mark. “The 
mule may come in handy.” 

“What will you give to boot?” asked Bob, 
cautiously. 

“Th’ harness an’ the saddle an’ not a cent’s 
wuth moah, sonny. Is it a go?” 

“Yes,” answered Bob. 

“Co-rect, neighbor — the mule is yours. Don’t 
never git behind him, onless ye want to go to 
heav’n by th’ direct route,” added the man from 
Alabama. 

“Which means that he can kick,” said Mark, in 
dismay. 

“Wall, I reckon he wouldn’t be a mule ef he 
couldn’t do thet same,” responded Washington 
Gossnacker. 

The transfer was made on the spot, and while 
the man from Alabama took possession of the 
scow, Bob swung himself up on the mule’s back. 
As quick as a flash the animal swerved around, 


48 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

began to kick, and then set off at a break-neck 
speed up the street. 

“Whoa !” yelled Bob, holding tight to the reins. 
“Whoa, you skyrocket; whoa, I say!” 

“Look out that he don’t throw you!” screamed 
Mark, and he started after his chum, and several 
in the crowd followed. Up the street went the 
mule, with Bob clinging desperately to the saddle. 
Then the boy gave the reins a strong pull and 
spoke gently to the animal, and soon the mule 
came to a stop. 

“Better get down,” suggested Mark, as he 
came up. 

“No, sir, I’m going to show Mr. Mule that I 
am his new master,” returned Bob, and he made 
the mule run once more, stopping and starting 
him half a dozen times. At last the mule was 
worn out and under perfect control, and then Bob 
patted him gently and gave him something to 
eat. 

“Do you think it was a bad trade?” asked 
Mark. He could not help grinning, now the 
danger was past. 

“No, I don’t — for the old scow was beginning 
to leak!” answered Bob, and then both boys 
laughed outright. 

“Now we’ve got a mule, what we shall need 
next is a wagon,” went on Mark, a moment later. 


TWO BOYS AND A MULE 


49 


“Then some provisions, and ho ! for the wild West 
and gold !” 

Finding a suitable hotel, they remained there 
over night and had the mule cared for. Mark 
named the animal Darling, and Darling he re- 
mained for the rest of the wonderful trip. Taken 
all in all he was not a bad mule, although in- 
clined at times to be tricky. 

By consulting the hotel clerk they learned that 
they could obtain passage on a steamboat bound 
up the Missouri River, and also transportation for 
the mule, and left Cairo that noon, on the Pride 
of the River , a steamboat that had seen better 
days. 

“What a crowd of passengers !” remarked Bob. 
“Wonder if they are all bound for the gold 
fields ?” 

“Likely not,” replied Mark. “Some are set- 
tlers and planters, and others are just plain busi- 
ness men.” 

“And some are gamblers,” added the sailor boy. 
And he was right, for gambling flourished vigor- 
ously in those days on all the boats of the Miss- 
issippi and the Missouri. The game went on 
day and night, and many a fortune was lost. The 
great majority of the gamblers were tricksters, 
and sometimes, when one was caught at his tricks, 
he was shot or run off the boat. 


50 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“What a life to lead!” said Bob. “I can tell 
you, no gambling for me !” 

^ r Nor for me,” answered Mark. “The fellow 
who gambles deserves to lose ; and I guess he gen- 
erally does, too, unless he’s a sharp.” 

With it all, the boys found the journey up the 
Mississippi and up the Missouri very interesting. 
They sat near the bow of the boat, — out of the 
way of the thick black smoke from the stack — 
and watched the scenery along the shores. In 
those days the settlements were rlearly all small, 
and much of the great forests which have since 
been cut down was standing. 

A stop of half an hour was made at St. Louis 
and the boys had a glimpse of that old French 
town. 

“Some day I fancy this will be a big city,” ob- 
served Mark. 

“Oh, the whole West and Middle West will fill 
up some day,” said Bob. “Uncle Sam’s children 
must go somewhere, and the population is increas- 
ing wonderfully.” 

As soon as the Pride of the River turned into 
the Missouri they observed the change in the 
water. Where it had been fairly clear before it 
was now dark and muddy. 

“The mud comes from the banks,” said Mark. 
“They tell me they are washing away continually, 



s* * . * o a 




“THE MISSISSIPPI AT LAST!” UTTERED BOB. — P. 45. 

Pioneer Boys of the Gold Fields 





















































































•• 

. 






































' 

> 






























































. 

























































TWO BOYS AND A MULE 


5 * 


so that a fellow may have a big farm on the 
riverside one day and have about nothing the 
next !” 

The boys had decided to leave the steamboat at 
a small place known as Brosberry’s Landing — 
somebody having told them that it was a great 
starting place for gold seekers, being but a few 
miles from Independence. As soon as the boat 
tied up they went ashore, Bob leading the mule 
and Mark carrying his valise and his chum's 
bundle. A dozen men, of various ages, went 
with them. 

“Here’s a new lot of gold hunters!” came the 
cry, from the dock. 

“Two boys an’ a mule!” sang out a man who 
had spotted our young friends. “Goin’ to Cali- 
forny ?” 

“You bet!” responded Bob, using a common 
expression of those days. 

“Hands up on me !” answered the man, with a 
grin. “Hope ye win out !” 

The boys soon discovered that Brosberry’s 
Landing consisted of nothing more than a general 
store, two gambling halls, and a motley collection 
of shanties and tents, the latter used by men 
bound for the W est. 

“I must say, I don’t like it much here,” was 
Mark’s comment, after a walk around. “Let us 


52 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

move towards Independence. Old man Spat said 
he was going over.” 

“Then let us follow Spat.” 

They had struck up an acquaintance with Ira 
Spat on the steamboat. He was from Maine, 
tall, thin, and leathery, having spent much of his 
time as a lumberman on the Penobscot. He was 
rough but good-hearted, and the boys liked him. 

“This air spot don’t suit me wuth shucks,” said 
Ira Spat. “I’m a-goin’ to find somethin’ better,” 
and he started for Independence on foot, with a 
stick and a big carpetbag over his shoulder. The 
boys followed, taking turns at riding Darling, 
who seemed to enjoy being on terra firma once 
more. 

It was not long before they came upon a flat 
stretch of prairie land, with an occasional patch of 
timber and a small stream. Here and there folks 
were camping out, and as they advanced the en- 
campments became thicker, until the scene was a 
decidedly animated one. 

“There must be thousands of folks here!” ex- 
claimed Mark. “And all bound for California, 
too ! Bob, we shan’t lack for company !” 

Some of the gold hunters had little or nothing, 
while others had nearly the whole of their house- 
hold goods. Wagons and carfs were numerous 
and so were horses, mules, and cows. Many of 


TWO BOYS AND A MULE 


53 


the emigrants — for they were nothing else — had 
their families with them, resolute-looking wives 
and children of all sizes and dispositions. One 
man had three old-maid daughters with him, 
while in another gathering there was a baby but 
four months old. 

“That youngster is going to hunt gold early,” 
said Bob, after meeting the woman with the baby. 
The infant was the talk of the camp, and every 
woman there wanted to hold it and pet it. 

After a long look around, Mark and Bob de- 
cided to pitch their camp near a brook and a short 
distance away from the others in that vicinity. 
At the general store they had purchased a small 
but good tent and this they erected, and then cut 
a ditch around it, that the rain might run off. 

“Now we can stay here until we are ready to 
begin the long trip overland,” said Bob; and so it 
was settled. 


CHAPTER VII 


TAKING IN ANOTHER PARTNER 

They soon became acquainted with several 
folks camping in that vicinity. Next to them on 
one side was a man from Iowa named Josiah 
Socket, who had with him his wife and five chil- 
dren, three boys and two girls. Socket was a 
quiet individual, but his wife could talk enough 
for a dozen people. 

“How do you do?” said the woman, the morn- 
ing after Bob and Mark had settled down. “Nice 
morning, isn’t it, but the sun is going to be warm. 
All alone, and only boys, too ! Do you expect to 
get all the way to California? But of course you 
do, or you wouldn’t be here. It’s going to be a 
long trip, so I’m telling Josiah — I mean my hus- 
band. Doing your own cooking, too, I see. You 
ought to have some woman to do that. Where 
are you from, if I’m not asking what I hadn’t 
ought to?” 

“We’re from Pennsylvania,” answered Mark. 

“Land sakes alive! You’ve had a pretty big 

54 


TAKING IN ANOTHER PARTNER 


55 


trip already, haven’t you? Did you come on that 
mule ? I like mules almost as well as horses. At 
home my father had six mules, and they 
worked ” 

“Ann, don’t talk those boys to death,” inter- 
rupted Mr. Socket. 

“Who’s talking anybody to death? I’m cer- 
tain I’m not, Josiah Socket — I scarcely said a 
word. I’ve got a right to find out who my 
neighbors are, haven’t I ? If I depended on you, 
we’d never know a soul in this whole community. 
Now I believe in being sociable, and ” 

“Excuse me, madam, but we must be off,” said 
Mark. “We’ve got to buy some things, and ” 

“Run along, lads,” said Josiah Socket. “Ann 
will keep you here all day if you let her.” And 
they hurried away while Socket had to stand a 
good lecture from his spouse. 

The boys had decided to go to town and see 
how cheaply they could obtain a small wagon and 
some provisions. They had heard that it would 
be necessary to take along beans, flour, coffee, and 
numerous other articles. They also wanted to 
get a rifle and a shotgun, and it was a serious 
question as to how much the articles were to cost. 

“We can’t spend all of our money,” said Bob. 
“For there is no telling what we may need when 
we get to the gold diggings.” 


56 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

As they walked along — they had left the mule 
in care of one of the Socket boys — they came to a 
small hillock of ground, upon which a boy of their 
own age was sitting. He was rather shabbily 
dressed, and his straw hat had a large hole 
through the crown. 

“Can you tell us the way to Ulmer’s store?’" 
asked Bob, more to speak to the lad than for any 
other purpose, since he knew the direction fairly 
well. 

“Sure I can,” was the ready answer, and the 
boy pointed with his sunburnt hand. “Take that 
trail yonder, and then the first trail on the left. 
You can’t miss it. He has a flag flying all the 
time, and a crowd of emigrants are always hang- 
ing around.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Are you fellows bound for California?” 

“We are,” put in Mark. The strange boy in- 
terested him. 

“Wish I was going. Of course your folks are 
with you.” 

“I haven’t any folks,” returned Bob. “I’m 
alone in the world, excepting for my chum Mark,” 
and he nodded to his companion. 

“We are going alone,” said Mark. 

“What, no grown folks with you?” cried the 
strange youth. 


TAKING IN ANOTHER PARTNER 


57 


“Don’t you think we can get through?” ques- 
tioned Bob. 

“Mother didn’t think I could get through. 
Said the journey was too rough.” 

“Oh, were you thinking of going?” asked 
Mark, in surprise. 

“Yes. In fact, I haven’t thought of anything 
else since the news came in. You see, we’re poor 
over our way, and father isn’t very well, and I’d 
like to go to California and make some money to 
send home to the folks.” 

“It’s a long journey,” said Bob, and now he 
looked the strange boy over more carefully. He 
was well set up, and looked as if he could stand 
almost any amount of knocking round. 

“I don’t care how long the trip is.” 

“Say, if you are acquainted around here, maybe 
you could put us on the track of buying a cheap 
but good wagon,” said Mark. 

“A wagon? Why, we’ve got a wagon father 
may let you have — if it’s good enough. We don’t 
use it any more.” 

“Will you show it to us?” 

“Certainly. Come on.” 

The boy led the way, and as they walked on he 
introduced himself. His name was Silas Wil- 
liams, although he said everybody called him 
plain Si. He was the oldest of eight children, 


58 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

and his parents had emigrated from New Jersey 
to Missouri six years before. 

The Williams farm proved to be in fairly good 
condition, although the lack of money to do with 
was plainly evident. They found Mr. Williams 
sitting by the kitchen door, nursing a leg that was 
rheumatic. Two boys were at work over a chop- 
ping block, and a girl was weeding a garden 
patch. 

“These boys want to see the red wagon,” said 
Si. “Perhaps they’ll buy it. They want a wagon 
for the trip to California.” 

“All right,” answered Mr. Williams. “They 
can have it for forty dollars and not a cent less. 
But why didn’t their men folks come over?” 

“They haven’t any men folks, father; they are 
going it alone.” 

“Gee shoo ! Oh, well, show the wagon to ’em.” 

Si led the way to a shed and rolled the red 
wagon into view. A glance told Mark and Bob 
that the wagon was a fair one and in good repair. 

“There’s a top for it — up in the barn loft,” said 
Si. “But it’s full of holes and will have to be 
mended.” 

“Well, I guess we could mend it,” answered 
Mark. “But don’t you think forty dollars is a 
good price?” He was growing as cautious as 
was Bob. 


TAKING IN ANOTHER PARTNER 


59 

“Father wants forty dollars — I don’t think he’ll 
take less. Still you might ask him.” 

They examined the wagon with care and ran it 
around the yard of the farm. Then they walked 
back to where Mr. Williams was sitting. 

“Til give twenty-five dollars for the wagon,” 
said Bob. 

“Make it thirty-five dollars and it’s yours.” 

“No, twenty-five.” 

“Then split the difference and call it thirty dol- 
lars,” said Mr. Williams, and this was the selling 
price finally agreed upon. The boys said they 
would bring the mule around the next morning 
and take the vehicle away. 

“Sit down and tell me about your plans,” said 
Mr. Williams, after the money had been paid 
over. And a talk lasting over an hour followed. 
They were joined by Mrs. Williams and her 
daughter Bess, who was a year younger than Si. 

“If they can do that, pa, I don’t see why our Si 
can’t do it,” said Bess. “He’s just as big and 
every bit as strong. Why don’t you let Si go?” 

“Maybe you’d like to take me in as a partner,” 
said Si, with a longing look in his clear blue eyes. 
“I’d be willing to do my full share of the work, 
I can vouch for that!” 

“Si’s heart has been set on going for a long 
time,” came from Mrs. Williams, a modest little 


6o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


woman with a pale face. “I shouldn’t mind it if 
we had plenty of money and could give him a 
good outfit. But to start off with next to noth- 
ing ” She ended with a sigh. 

“We are starting off with little enough,” an- 
swered Bob. “We’ve got a mule and the wagon, 
and a little tent, and we are going to buy some 
provisions and firearms, and then we’ll be pretty 
low on cash, I can tell you.’’ 

“I do want to go so much,” said Si. “I’ve 
been planning it every day. Father, you could 
afford to give me the wagon, couldn’t you ?” 

“Why, it’s sold !” 

“Then the price of it — and maybe some pro- 
visions. Then if they’ll have me ” He 

paused and looked at Mark and Bob. 

“We might take you,” answered Bob, slowly. 
“We’d want to talk it over first.” 

“Why can’t you come over to the house !” burst 
out Si, eagerly. “Bring the mule over and your 
tent. We’ve got a spare room ” 

“For the mule?” asked Mark. 

“Oh, the idea !” shrieked Bess, and then a gen- 
eral laugh followed. 

“You know what I mean,” continued Si. 
“Come on over, please !” 

“All right, we’ll come,” answered Bob, after a 
nod from Mark. 


TAKING IN ANOTHER PARTNER 6 1 

“I’ll help you move,” said the farm boy, and 
walked back to camp with them. Soon the tent 
was taken down, and the outfit strapped to Dar- 
ling’s back, and an hour later found them installed 
at the Williams homestead. 

Mark and Bob found their new friends very 
agreeable. Though the house was scantily fur- 
nished, it was scrupulously clean, and the meals 
served by Mrs. Williams and Bess beat the camp 
meals “all to pieces,” as Mark declared. In the 
evening they talked the California matter over 
once more, and resumed it in the morning. 

“I think I can buy your provisions for you at a 
reasonable figure,” said Mr. Williams. “And 
I’ve got a shotgun here I guess we can spare, 
and I know where you can get a rifle, if you want 
one.” 

“We have some beans we can spare — and some 
sides of bacon,” put in Mrs. Williams. 

“Could you put in those things as Si’s share?” 
asked Bob. 

“Yes, yes, please do!” shouted Si, rushing over 
to his parent. “Hurrah! It’s settled that I am 
to go after all !” He threw up his old straw hat. 

“Not so fast, Si,” broke in his father. “You 
ain’t real sure that they want you.” 

Si stopped short and he looked pleadingly at 
Bob and Mark. 


62 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Tell him he can go,” whispered Mark to his 
chum. 

“Why, Si can go if he can bear his share of the 
expense,” said Bob. “I know Mark and I will 
like first-rate to have him along.” 

“Bully for you!” said Si, and rushing up he 
shook hands with both boys. “Oh, we are bound 
to get through somehow, and find a lot of gold, 
too !” he added. 

“To be sure we’ll get through,” returned Mark. 
“But the next time you shake hands please don’t 
squeeze my fingers quite so hard.” He had found 
the country boy’s grip a tough one. 

“Si can do the real hard work,” came from One 
of the little Williams boys. “He can split wood, 
an’ — an’ everything !” 

“Yes, I’ll split the wood, and do a lot besides— 
if only I go,” said Si, and then in sheer delight 
he swung his little brother on high. “And just 
wait till I get back, Benny,” he went on. “You 
shall have a lot of toys, and mother a silk dress, 
and Bess those music lessons, and father ” 

“Oh, I’ll sit all day long and figure up what the 
nuggets are worth,” finished Mr. Williams, with 
a laugh. “Well, boys, now it’s settled, I wish all 
of you luck, and there’s my hand on it.” And he 
shook hands all around. 


CHAPTER VIII 


OFF FOR THE LAND OF GOLD 

It was astonishing* how quickly the three boys 
got to liking one another. Inside of two days 
Bob and Mark felt as if they had known Si for a 
long time. Si was a real worker, they could 
easily see that, and given to look at the hard, 
practical side of things. He went over their list 
with care, and so did Mr. and Mrs. Williams, and 
some things were added and others dropped out. 
The shotgun was cleaned up, and they went to 
the store for the rifle, and for the balance of the 
provisions and the ammunition. They likewise 
purchased a small box filled with necessary medi- 
cines. 

It was decided that the start should be made on 
the following Monday morning, and the three boys 
spent all of Saturday in completing their arrange- 
ments. Bob and Mark had purchased some extra 
underwear, and Mrs. Williams mended the gar- 
ments belonging to her son. Sunday was a day 
of complete rest. 


63 


64 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

The route to be taken for the first stage of the 
journey was from Independence to Fort Leaven- 
worth, and then along the Platte River westward 
to Fort Laramie. When the latter place was 
gained they were to decide how to proceed 
further. 

“You must take good care of yourselves,” said 
Mr. Williams, when it came time to leave. 
“Don’t run into unnecessary danger.” 

“We will be careful,” answered Mark. 

“Si, I’d rather have you come home without 
gold than be killed,” put in Mrs. Williams, look- 
ing with motherly fondness at her son. 

The children gathered around and tears stood 
in Bess’s eyes, for she thought a great deal of her 
brother. Then the mule was started up and off 
they went, with Bob on the seat of the wagon, and 
Mark trudging on foot on one side and Si on the 
other. 

The three young adventurers were off for the 
gold fields at last ! 

For quarter of a mile they had the side road 
to themselves. But then they turned into the 
main road and soon became one of a long proces- 
sion of turnouts of various kinds and sizes, from 
the monstrous prairie “houses” with four horses, 
to the little pushcarts which some individuals 
were pushing soberly and diligently. It was cal- 


OFF FOR THE LAND OF GOLD 


65 


culated that already four to five thousand people 
were on the trail between Independence and 
Laramie ! 

“Gracious, this looks as if a whole town was 
moving out !” exclaimed Mark, as he gazed ahead 
and then behind. As far as eye could reach he 
could see an endless procession of wagons and 
cattle moving slowly across the prairies. The 
movement was all in one direction — westward — 
to the Land of Gold ! 

“Not much chance of getting lost here,” said 
Bob. “Too many lighthouses,” and he pointed to 
the white covers of the wagons, which shone 
brightly in the sunlight. 

“We don’t want to get lost,” came from Si. 
“We don’t want to lose any time that way, or all 
the best claims will be taken before we get to 
California.” 

“Oh, California is so large it will take years to 
fill it with people,” declared Mark. “Just the 
same, I want to get there as quickly as anybody,” 
he hastened to add. 

At noon they shifted to one side of the trail, 
and stopped for dinner and to feed the mule. 
Darling had done well and Bob patted him affec- 
tionately. 

“We’re friends, aren’t we, Darling?” said the 
sailor boy, and rubbed his face along the mule’s 


66 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

head. The animal looked wise, shifted his ears, 
and gave a low heehaw of pleasure. 

“Bob’s courting the mule,” laughed Mark. 

“He’s all right, Mark.” 

“I know he is.” 

Si was gathering dry grass and wood for the 
fire and soon had a blaze started. The meal was 
a short one, but they enjoyed it thoroughly. They 
were finishing up when a well-built man, bronzed 
by exposure to the elements, sauntered up. 

“Boys, kin ye spare an old. hunter a cup o’ 
coffee?” he asked. “I had some, but the canister 
got busted an’ the coffee is layin’ all the way from 
Ten-Mile Stake to here!” 

“Yes, there is just one cup left,” said Mark. 
“Here you are,” and he poured it into a tin dipper 
the old hunter carried. The man sat down, 
opened a haversack and brought forth some bread 
and meat, and began his meal. 

“My name’s Dixon,” he said. “Hank Dixon, 
although most o’ the boys call me Maybe 
Dixon, although I don’t know why, exceptin’ 
maybe it pleases ’em to call me so. I see you 
three lads are travelin’ alone. I’m travelin’ alone, 
too. I hope to git to the Land o’ Gold some day, 
but maybe I won’t make it.” 

“The name Maybe hits him true enough,” 
whispered Mark. 


OFF FOR THE LAND OF GOLD 


6 ? 


“Maybe you won’t mind havin’ me travel along 
with you,” went on the man. “It’s more sociable- 
like than travelin’ alone.” 

“Why, yes, come along,” said Bob. 

“All right then — jest as soon as I’ve covered 
this hunk o’ bread an’ meat an’ washed ’em down 
with that coffee. It’s good coffee, I kin smell 
it — none o’ your third-rate Rio !” And he took a 
gulp and smacked his lips. 

“Where are you from, Mr. Dixon?” asked Si. 

“Whoop! Don’t call me mister, onless you 
want me to have a fit. Call me plain Dixon, or 
Maybe Dixon if thet suits better. I’m from 
’most any old place. I war born in Vermont, 
raised in Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio at the 
age o’ twelve or thirteen, went down South when 
I was eighteen, got married in Georgia, settled 
down in North Carolina, moved over to Ken- 
tucky, lost my wife in Iowa, an’ now I’m here an’ 
bound fer Californy.” 

“Gracious! You need a geography to find 
yourself!” cried Mark, and began to laugh. “I 
suppose when you get to California you’ll be mov- 
ing over to China.” 

“No, these ere United States is good enough 
fer me to roam around in. I want to see the hull 
o’ my own country, afore I trot along to fureign 
parts.” 


68 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Haven’t you any outfit?” asked Si. 

“Such as it is, a big bundle an’ a stick. It’s 
behind yonder rise o’ ground,” answered Maybe 
Dixon. “Whar be you from, as they ask down 
to Vermont?” And when they told him he 
nodded several times. “A good mixture — and 
it’s mixtures what I like. Maybe we can make 
the journey right through together, eh?” 

“We’ll see,” answered Bob, briefly, and started 
up the wagon. The other boys followed, and 
presently Maybe Dixon joined them, carrying 
over his shoulder a big bundle done up in an old 
red and white tablecloth. 

“This here tablecloth was a weddin’ present to 
my late departed wife,” said Te. “I keep it in 
memory o’ the best woman thet ever breathed the 
breath o’ life. Maybe it ain’t so bright an’ beauti- 
ful as it once was, but thet can’t be helped. Be- 
sides, it was the only thing I had to wrap my load 
in when I started out.” 

That day saw them twenty-five miles on their 
journey, and when night came they were glad to 
rest themselves. They put up the tent close to 
the wagon and slept under the shelter of both, 
and Dixon laid himself down near by. 

“Jest as soon sleep in the open, if it ain’t 
rainin’,” he said. “The fresh air is fine.” 

“I suppose I’ll get used to it after a while,” an- 


OFF FOR THE LAND OF GOLD 69 

swered Mark. “But for the present I’m going to 
use the tent.” 

Maybe Dixon departed early in the morning, 
but came back before breakfast with a small bag 
of coffee under his arm. 

“Struck luck,” he explained. “Met a feller as 
had more coffee nor he wanted. Sez he, ‘Got any 
terbacker to spare?’ Sez I, ‘Got any coffee ter 
spare?’ An’ then we made a dicker. It’s putty 
good coffee, too, by the smell,” and it was good, 
as they soon afterwards learned. 

Four days of traveling found the boys and 
Maybe Dixon well on their way. The rolling 
prairies were ahead and behind them, and not far 
away the river glistened brightly in the sunshine. 
They had come up to Josiah Socket and his family 
and that individual was glad to see them. 

“Might as well travel along with them as knows 
you,” said Socket, and kept on directly behind 
the boys. Mrs. Socket was also glad to see them 
and it was all they could do to steer clear of the 
everlasting clatter of her tongue. 

“She means well, but her tongue would be the 
death of me,” said Bob. “Puts me in mind of a 
windmill that never stops.” Yet as the days 
went by and they got further and further west the 
woman quieted down greatly, much to the satis- 
faction of all around her. 


70 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

On Saturday night the boys went into camp 
close to the Platte, at a pleasant spot where there 
was an inlet and a grove of trees. Here in a con- 
venient shelter they took a bath and rested. 

“We’ll feel as fresh as ever by Monday morn- 
ing/’ said Mark. “And ‘Darling will feel rested 
too.” 

“Monday mornm’?” queried Maybe Dixon. 
“Don’t ye calkerlate to move on Sunday ?” 

“No, we are not going to travel on Sunday,” 
answered Bob. He had settled this point with Si 
and Mark the day previous. 

“Well! Thar ain’t many a-restin’.” 

“We shall,” put in Mark. “You can go ahead 
if you wish. Don’t let us keep you.” 

“No, sirree! I ain’t much on religion, I ain’t, 
but if Sunday’s goin’ to be a day o’ rest, so be it,” 
answered Maybe Dixon. “Maybe ’twill do us a 
heap o’ good anyway.” 

Before the boys and Dixon retired for the night 
a man, dressed in a suit of black and carrying a 
bundle of tracts, came to them. 

“There will be preaching on the Lord’s Day at 
the tent with the blue and white flag,” said he. 
“All are invited. Preaching at ten o’clock and 
at three.” 

“Let us go,” said Si, and the others agreed. 
Sunday dawned bright and fair, and when they 


OFF FOR THE LAND OF GOLD 


7 * 


arrived at the “gospel tent” they found quite a 
crowd assembled. Seats had been placed for the 
women and children, while the men stood up in 
the rear. The sermon was short but to the point, 
and half a dozen familiar hymns were sung. The 
hat was passed around, and everybody gave some- 
thing. 

“That’s real home-like,” said Bob. “It shows 
that folks have the right feelings, even if they are 
hundreds of miles from home.” 

“It was splendid,” returned Mark. The sing- 
ing especially had pleased him. 

“I’m going every Sunday, if I get the chance,” 
put in Si. “I ain’t going to be a heathen, even if 
I am on the trail.” 


CHAPTER IX 


A STORM AND A WASHOUT 

A week passed and the young gold hunters 
found themselves well on the trail to Fort Lara- 
mie, which was to be their next regular stopping 
place. The route was along the northern bank 
of the Platte River, which they had crossed at a 
spot where the stream was broad but shallow. 
The wagon had been taken over on a flatboat, at 
a cost of two dollars. Darling had been made to 
swim over to the other side, much against his 
wishes. In going down into the river the mule 
had done a tremendous lot of splashing, wetting 
Bob, who was riding him, from head to foot. 

“That mule is a cantankerous critter/’ observed 
Maybe Dixon, who chanced to be near at the time. 
“One thing is certain, he ain’t no Baptist \”\/ 

“I guess he’d rather take a roll than take a 
bath,” said Mark, and he was right; ms soon as 
Darling came out of the river, he shook himself 
and then started to roll. It was a good quarter 
72 


A STORM AND A WASHOUT 


73 

of an hour before Bob, aided by Si, could hook 
him up once more. 

The weather had been fair during the week and 
the boys had managed to get a little rough wash- 
ing done on the way. But on Sunday night it 
commenced to rain and blow, until all were glad 
enough to seek the shelter which the tent and the 
wagon afforded. 

“If ye want my advice, take down the tent an’ 
put it over yer wagon,” said Maybe Dixon. 
“Maybe it won’t blow an’ maybe it will. But it’s 
allers wise to be on the safe side.” 

“Do you think the wind will get worse ?” ques- 
tioned Mark. 

“It has a habit o’ doing sech things out 
here.” 

The wind was already rising, and not wishing to 
have the canvas torn to shreds, the boys decided 
to follow Dixon’s advice. It was no easy matter 
to take the tent down, and one wet end slashed 
around poor Si, hurling him to the ground and 
turning him over and over. 

“Hi! let me out o’ this!” gasped the country 
youth. “I don’t want to be bagged up just yet.” 
And as Mark unwound the canvas he staggered to 
his feet. “Gosh all hemlock! But it’s blowing, 
ain’t it!” 

To get the canvas over the wagon was a second 


74 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

difficulty, but at last it was accomplished. Then 
they stretched several ropes over the wagon 
wheels and pinned them down, that the vehicle 
might be kept from blowing over. The rain was 
now coming down in sheets and they were glad 
enough to get out of it again, although, as Si 
remarked, “They couldn’t get any wetter if they 
tried.” 

“One thing is certain, when it rains here it 
rains,” said Bob. “It don’t fool about it.” 

“Bob, this would be a hard one on the ocean,” 
came from Mark. 

“Right you are, my hearty,” answered the 
former sailor boy. “I’ve been in ’em — more than 
once — an’ I know. I was in such a blow once 
when we were out after an old cow whale, and the 
small boat didn’t get back to the vessel until noon 
of the next day. All of us thought we were 
surely bound for Davy Jones’s locker.” 

It rained and blew so hard the entire night that 
sleep was out of the question. Mark tried it 
shortly after midnight and soon roused up with a 
start. 

“The waterfall ! Look out for the waterfall !” 
he cried, and then gazed around stupidly. 
“Gracious ! I got to dreaming and dreamt I was 
under a waterfall !” he gasped. 

“And you were,” answered Bob, roaring with 


A STORM AND A WASHOUT 


75 


laughter. “The rain came through that hole and 
poured right down on your nose.” 

Maybe Dixon was under the wagon, resting on 
a small platform of logs. In the middle of the 
night they heard him splashing around. 

“What’s the trouble down there?” called out 
Si. 

“Trouble is, I don’t care to drown,” declared 
Dixon. “The water is ’bout up to the hubs 
already, an’ maybe it will soon be higher than 
thet.” 

“Then we must be in a hollow,” cried Mark. 
“If so, we’ll have to get out, or all of our stores 
may get wet.” 

There was no help for it, and tired, wet, and 
disgusted, all crawled forth into the darkness of 
the night. They did not bother to hitch up the 
mule, but with two in front and two behind, 
pushed and hauled the wagon to a higher spot. 
Here were a few sturdy young trees which had 
not been affected by the wind, and they tied fast 
to these. 

“If going to California was all like this, I’d be 
for turning back right now,” declared Mark, as he 
wiped the water from his face. 

“Ditto here,” came from Bob, who was wring- 
ing out his jacket. “But don’t worry, the sun 
will shine again.” 


76 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“An’ be good an’ hot too, don’t forget that,” 
put in Si. 

About four o’clock in the morning the wind 
gradually died down and the rain slackened up. 
Then one after another did what he could to make 
himself comfortable and get a few winks of sleep. 
But it was a sorry-looking crowd that gathered 
outside three hours later. 

“I’d like to have some of that hot sunshine right 
now,” said Mark to Si. The sky was still heavy 
and threatening. 

It was difficult to obtain firewood dry enough to 
burn, and they wasted several precious matches 
in starting a blaze. But once the fire was going 
they heaped on the wood and then dried them- 
selves as best they could. They also made a 
generous pot of coffee, which they emptied while 
it was steaming. 

“Coffee is the thing to warm a feller up,” said 
Si. “Beats liquor all holler.” And Mark and 
Bob nodded in affirmation. 

They did not move on until after dinner. By 
that time the sky had cleared and the sun was 
peeping from behind what was left of the clouds. 
But the trail was wet and heavy and they had to 
make many a detour, to avoid mud-holes and 
dangerous washouts. 

“Hullo, look at this!” cried Mark, when they 


A STORM AND A WASHOUT 


77 


were looking for a camping spot for the night. 
“Socket’s in trouble, sure !” 

He was right, Josiah Socket was indeed in 
trouble. His wagon had gone deep down into a 
mud-hole, with Mrs. Socket and the girls on 
board. On the outer edge of the hole stood 
Josiah and his three boys, gazing at the disaster 
in dismay and wondering how the females and the 
outfit were to be rescued. 

“Jest like you, Josiah Socket!” Mrs. Socket 
was saying, as she stood up on the front step and 
waved her arms in the air. “It’s a wonder me an’ 
the gals didn’t all tumble in the mud or git our 
necks broke ! Sech a careless man I never did see 
in all my born days ! Now what are we going to 
do, answer me that?” 

“I don’t know, Ann,” answered the husband, 
meekly. 

“We can’t sit here all day, nor stand nuther!” 

“You can jump out if you want to.” 

“Land sakes alive ! Jump out in all that mud ! 
Ain’t you ashamed to suggest sech a thing? If 
you was a man that was a-looking out for your 
own, you’d — you’d ” 

“What would I do, Ann ?” 

“You’d do something, that’s what you’d do. I 
shan’t stay here, that is all there is to it !” 

“Maybe I kin git a board an’ help you out that 


78 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

way,” said Josiah Socket, and gazed around help- 
lessly; for nothing like a board was anywhere in 
sight. 

“Carry ’em over,” suggested Maybe Dixon. 
“I’ll take one o’ the gals, if she’ll let me.” And 
he waded into the mud. 

Josiah Socket was willing enough to follow the 
advice given, and he plunged into the mud. His 
wife was doubtful about trusting herself on his 
shoulder, but at last took the seat with many 
cautions. 

“If ye slip down, Josiah Socket, I’ll never for- 
give ye,” she declared. “Never, in all this wide 
world!” 

“I ain’t a-goin’ to slip down,” he muttered, 
stubbornly, and he did not. Soon the lady was 
safe by the side of the trail and so were the two 
girls, Maybe Dixon bringing over one and Bob 
the younger miss. 

“I feel like leaving the blamed outfit where it 
is,” grumbled Josiah Socket, in deep disgust. 
“I’m sick o’ emigratin’ to Californy.” 

“Don’t leave it where it is,” said Maybe Dixon. 
“If so, maybe ’twill sink through to Chiny.” 

“I think we can help haul you out,” said Bob. 
“Come, Mark, help splice a rope on here, and we’ll 
tow his bark out of that hole in jig time.” 

The rope was produced and made fast to the 


A STORM AND A WASHOUT 


79 


back of the boys’ wagon, and horses and mule 
were started up. The boys hauled and so did the 
men, and at last, with a deep sound of suction, the 
Socket outfit came up out of the mud-hole and was 
dragged to a spot that was high and dry. 

“Good fer you!” cried Josiah Socket, his face 
brightening wonderfully, now that the difficulty 
was over. “Tell ye wot, many hands make short 
work, don’t they ?” 

“I’ll reward you boys,” said Mrs. Socket. “I’m 
going to bake to-morrow — pervidin’ it don’t rain, 
— and I’ll give you some fresh loaves of bread.” 

“Good enough !” cried Mark. “I’ve been long- 
ing for fresh bread — the real kind, I mean, since 
we left Si’s home.” 

“Ditto here,” put in Bob. “The kind we’ve 
been turning out ain’t any better than hardtack, 
if as good.” 

“Mother certainly knows how to bake bread,” 
put in Si, softly, and then a far-away look came 
into his eyes as he thought of the home so many 
miles eastward. He could picture the others 
gathered around the family board, eating supper 
— and perhaps talking about him. He had a lit- 
tle streak of homesickness go over him, and to 
work it off set about pitching camp for the night 
and building a fire for the evening meal. 

Many things were still wet and the boys were 


8o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


glad to find that plenty of firewood was handy, 
so that a generous blaze was started, and kept up 
a good part of the night, drying things out 
thoroughly. The Sockets camped close at hand, 
and in the morning the promised bread was baked 
and delivered. It was certainly good and the 
boys did not hesitate to say so. This pleased Mrs. 
Socket and she said she would bake them bread 
another time, providing they would furnish the 
flour. 


CHAPTER X 


AT FORT LARAMIE 

“Bob, what is that tall rock ahead of us ?” 

“I don’t know, Mark.” 

“That is what they call Chimney Rock,” put in 
Si. “Maybe Dixon was telling me about it. It 
won’t be long now before we reach the top of the 
ridge and then we’ll get our first sight of the 
Rocky Mountains.” 

The young gold hunters found the vicinity of 
Chimney Rock very beautiful, and that day they 
rested at a point where they could look for a 
good many miles around them. Chimney Rock 
was of soft stone, several hundred feet high, a 
well-defined landmark on that strange trail. Be- 
yond it were a series of bluffs. 

“Now we are going to get our first sight of 
the Rockies,” said Mark, some days later, after 
another rain. “The storm cleared the air, so we 
ought to get a pretty good view.” 

They were close to the top of the ridge, along 
8.1 


82 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

which they had traveled slowly and laboriously, 
for the road was nothing like what it is to-day, 
with its many towns and villages. The boys 
could not wait, and Mark and Si rushed on ahead 
of Bob, who was driving the mule. 

“Hurrah! Here we are!” shouted Mark, 
throwing up his cap. “The mountains, as plain 
as day!” 

The mountains were certainly there, but so far 
off that they were a mere blue-and-white blur in 
the distance. The tops were lost in the clouds, 
and this caused Si to draw a deep breath. 

“It ain’t going to be an easy task climbing over 
them,” was his sober comment. 

“Want to go back?” asked Mark, quickly. 

“No! It’s California or bust with me!” an- 
swered the farm boy, quickly. “Why, if I went 
back now, I’d never be able to look father and 
mother in the face again,” he added. 

Presently Darling came plodding up to the top 
of the ridge, with Bob trudging alongside of the 
wagon. Bob’s face broke into a grin as he viewed 
the scene beyond. 

“Are those the Rockies?” he asked. 

“Yes,” said both of the other boys. 

“Good enough, we’ll soon be over ’em,” an- 
swered the former sailor boy, softly. “Ain’t that 
so, Darling?” he^added, to the mule. The animal 


AT FORT LARAMIE 


33 

laid back his ears, blinked one eye, and gave a 
gentle heehaw for an answer. 

They spent the rest of the day on the ridge and 
early the next day started on the direct trail for 
Fort Laramie. The trail was now crowded and 
they had plenty of company. Many of the folks 
along the trail called them the Boy Triplets, be- 
cause they were always seen together. Strangers 
were astonished when they learned that the boys 
had not known each other previous to starting on 
the trip. 

“You certainly pull well together,” said one 
pioneer, as he journeyed along with them for 
several miles. “No quarrelin’ or nothin’, eh?” 

“None so far,” answered Mark. 

“Must all have good natures. I had a partner, 
but we didn’t hitch a week. When I wanted to 
do one thing he always wanted to do something 
else.” 

“We know just what we want to do and we are 
going to do it,” put in Bob. “We haven’t got 
time to quarrel.” 

At last they reached Fort Laramie, called by 
some of the pioneers and trappers Fort John. It 
was a quadrangular building, built of rough 
bricks. The walls had watch towers and were 
defended by several brass cannon. It was located 
where the Laramie River flowed into the Platte, 


84 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

six hundred and seventy-two miles from Inde- 
pendence. 

“We’ve done some traveling since we started,” 
said Mark, when he heard the distance mentioned. 

“That leaves us a little over fifteen hundred 
miles still to cover,” said Si. “Boys, we are get- 
ting there.” 

“The worst of it is,” put in Bob, “nearly all of 
the rest of the journey is uphill — that is, till we 
get over the top of the Rockies. It is going to 
be a long, hard pull, if I know anything about 
it.” 

A great many emigrants were encamped around 
Fort Laramie, taking a brief rest before setting 
out on the next stage of their arduous journey. 
Trappers, hunters, and traders were numerous, 
and not a few gambling places were in full blast. 
Some of these resorts were open day and night, 
and not a few of the men who went in to play lost 
all they possessed. The very night the boys ar- 
rived there was some excitement over a young 
man who had just committed suicide. 

“He went an’ gambled away his last dollar and 
then gambled away his hoss an’ his hull outfit,” 
explained one of the men to Mark. “That dis- 
couraged him, and he threw himself into the river 
with a bag of sand tied to his neck.” 

“Horrible !” murmured the boy, and shuddered. 


AT FORT LARAMIE 


85 


“The gambling fever is fearful when it gets 
into your veins,” went on the man. “I had it 
once and I know.” 

The gaming tables had a great fascination for 
Maybe Dixon, and soon he was putting up what 
little money he possessed, much to the boys’ dis- 
tress, for they thought a good deal of the man 
“from everywhere.” 

“Better give it up,” said Bob to Dixon. “You 
are bound to lose.” 

“Not if they play fair,” answered Maybe 
Dixon. “But maybe they don’t give a feller a 
square deal. There’s one chap I don’t trust much 
— a feller from the south named Sag Ruff. He 
looks like a sharper. But he has got some o’ my 
money already, an’ I am bound to win it back, or 
my name ain’t Dixon.” 

“Better leave him alone,” said Mark. “If he 
is a swindler he will surely take all he can from 
you.” 

“I’ll stake against him once more,” said Dixon, 
determinedly. 

Curious to see what might happen to Maybe 
Dixon, Mark watched his chance that evening and 
followed the man to the gambling shanty, which 
was located on the outskirts of the temporary set- 
tlement. The gambling table was a packing box 
with several smooth boards nailed to the top, and 


86 PIO'NEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


rude benches took the place of chairs. At one 
end of the table rested a tallow candle, and on the 
wall swung a smoking oil lamp. 

A dozen men were present, some clean-cut and 
honest-looking and the others of all degrees of 
roughness. Sag Ruff was a burly fellow of forty, 
with a shock of red hair and a red beard. He had 
a harsh voice, and when he spoke it was frequently 
with biting sarcasm. 

“Now, if you have nerve, step up, but if you are 
afraid, go home,” he said to the crowd. “The 
game is an honest one, gents, but it takes nerve to 
play it.” 

“I’m in with you,” said Maybe Dixon. “Told 
you I’d come, last night.” 

“So you did,” answered Sag Ruff. His full 
first name was Sagamore, but all called him Sag 
for short. 

The game was soon on. Mark could not fol- 
low very well, as he took no interest in cards. But 
he saw that Maybe Dixon was losing after the 
first game had been played. 

“Once more,” said Sag Ruff, after Dixon had 
lost several times. 

The money went up on the table — the last fifty 
dollars which Maybe Dixon possessed — and the 
game proceeded. In the midst of the game Mark, 
shifting his position unknown to Sag Ruff, saw 


AT FORT LARAMIE 87 

the gambler stick one card up his coat sleeve and 
produce another from his inner pocket. 

“Sag wins!” shouted several, a minute later. 
“And that busts me!” groaned Maybe Dixon. 
“Hang the luck, anyhow!” And he arose to go 
away. 

“Wait a minute,” said Mark, in a clear voice. 
“I want something explained.” 

“Hullo, Mark, I didn’t know you were here.” 
“Did that man have a right to shove one card 
up his sleeve and substitute another from his 
pocket ?” 

“Did he what?” roared Maybe Dixon. 

Mark repeated his question. 

“Certainly not.” 

“Well, that is what he did do,” went on the 
youth. 

At this declaration several cries rang out, and a 
dozen began to speak at once. Sag Ruff glared 
at the boy as if he wanted to eat Mark up. 

“What are you talking about?” he growled. 
“You’re dreaming.” 

“I am not dreaming. I saw you put one card 
from your hand up your sleeve and then bring 
another card from your inside pocket.” 

“Never!” 

“You did.” 

“See here, boy, do you want to get shot?” 


88 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


blustered Sag Ruff, and made a movement as if to 
draw a pistol. But ere he could raise a weapon 
Maybe Dixon had his own pistol out and leveled 
at the gambler’s head. 

“No shootin’ jest yet, Sag Ruff. This boy 
always tell the truth.” 

“He does not.” 

“I say he does. I thought as how you was 
cheatin’ me, but I couldn’t get on to the game. 
Before we drop this matter, you’ll please take off 
thet coat.” 

“I won’t.” 

“I say he will. Ain’t that so, men ?” 

“If he’s honest he won’t mind taking off the 
coat,” answered one burly emigrant. 

“Take it off,” added two others. 

“I am not going to,” growled Sag Ruff, 
and it was plain to see that he was greatly dis- 
turbed. 

Hardly had he spoken when he found himself 
covered by half a dozen pistols, some small and 
some extra large. He began to tremble, thinking 
he was to be shot down on the spot. 

“Now take it off an’ be quick about it,” went on 
Maybe Dixon. “I’ll count ten. One, two, three, 
four, five ” 

“Wait, I’ll take it off!” burst out the gambler* 
and began to take off the coat with care. Seeing 


AT FORT LARAMIE 89 

this, an old miner pulled the garment from him, 
and out of the sleeve dropped a playing card. 

“The four of clubs !” cried Maybe Dixon. 
“Boys, look through that pack we were playing 
with.” 

Xhree men did so, sorting out the cards as they 
went along. Soon came another excited cry : 
“Here are two queen of hearts !” 

“The card he brought from his pocket !” 

“He is a swindler of the worst sort !” 

“He must have cheated me 1” 

“And me too !” 

“He got fifty dollars from me !” 

“A hundred and ten from me !” 

“Let us make him shell out !” 

“We will make him shell out!” said Maybe 
Dixon, firmly. “He has got to pay us back every 
cent he took from us.” He turned to Sag Ruff. 
“Will you do it — or will you have this?” And 
he shook the pistol in the gambler’s face. 

“I’ll pay up,” answered the swindler, weakly. 
“Don’t shoot me, and I’ll give up to the very last 
penny !” 


CHAPTER XI 


SAG RUFF’S THREAT 

For the time being the excitement was high in 
the gambler’s shack and Mark thought that some- 
body would surely be shot. The men present 
affirmed that they had lost about a thousand dol- 
lars between them, whereas Sag Ruff had only 
nine hundred dollars on hand with which to make 
a settlement. 

“Where is the rest of the money?” demanded 
one man. 

“Lost it,” answered the gambler. “Fellow 
named Hi Wilson got it from me.” 

“I reckon that’s right,” said another. “He 
played with Hi night before last and Hi went off 
with over three hundred dollars. He was too 
sharp-eyed for this rascal” 

“I’ll fix this,” said Maybe Dixon. “He owes 
us one thousand. Nine hundred is a thousand 
with ten per cent, off, as the schoolmasters say. 
Everybody gits wot is cornin’ to him less ten per 
cent. Ain’t I right, Perfesser?” The last to a 
90 


SAG RUFF’S THREAT 


9i 


man who had once taught in Yale College, and 
who was now as eager to hunt gold as anybody. 

“That is correct,” answered the professor, with 
a nod of his bald head. 

“Make the Perfesser the bookkeeper,” said an- 
other man, and this was done, and in a very few 
minutes the money was divided in the proper 
ratio. During the proceedings the gambler 
looked glum. He gave Mark a savage glance. 

“I’ll remember you, sonny !” he hissed, in a low 
tone. 

“I’ll remember you too,” answered Mark, but 
the gambler’s remark caused him to shiver. He 
knew that Sag Ruff was angry enough to kill him 
if given the opportunity. 

It was after midnight, yet the camp was alive 
with people. The news had spread that some- 
body had exposed a swindler, and a crowd began 
to collect. Sag Ruff wanted to run away, but 
Maybe Dixon and some of the others would not 
let him go. 

“We are not done with you,” said one man. 

“Why not? I’ve given up all I’ve got,” 
growled the swindler. 

“We are going to teach you a lesson,” said 
another. 

“Ride him on a rail !” 

“Duck him in the river !” 


92 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

These and several other suggestions rang out. 
Torches were procured, and in a few minutes one 
man found a long tent pole, which answered very 
well for a rail. Sag Ruff was hoisted on this and 
marched through the camp. Then he was taken 
to a pond filled with dirty water and tumbled in 
head first. 

“Now don’t show your face on this trail 
again !” shouted several. 

“If you do you’ll be shot!” added several 
others. 

Filled with rage and fear, Sag Ruff dragged 
himself from the pond and hurried out of sight 
behind a nearby row of tents. As he went on he 
had to pass the outfit belonging to our friends. 
He caught sight of Mark just going into the 
tent. 

“Look here, sonny!” he hissed, in a voice full 
of hate and bitterness. “I shan’t forget you, and 
some day I’ll square up ! Don’t forget, I’ll square 
up!” And then the darkness of the night swal- 
lowed up his form. 

“Who is there?” asked Si, rousing up in his 
sleep. 

“It is all right, Si, I’m just getting back.” 

“Oh, all right, Mark. Did you see anything 
worth seeing?” 

“I did — and I saved Maybe Dixon some money. 


SAG RUFFS THREAT 


93 


But I guess I’ve made a bitter enemy and one 
who is bound to do me an injury if he possibly 
can.” 

“I thought I heard some shouting,” said the 
country boy, as he sat up in the darkness. “What 
was it all about?” 

“I’ll tell you in the morning. No use of wak- 
ing Bob. I know he is tired,” answered Mark, 
and then he turned in beside his chums. But it 
was all of an hour before he could get to sleep, 
and then he dreamed that he was out in a shower 
of playing cards and Sag Ruff was pursuing him 
with a big butcher knife. He awoke with a start, 
to find himself bathed from head to feet in a cold 
perspiration. 

In the morning he told his two friends the 
particulars of what had occurred. He was just 
finishing the recital when Maybe Dixon hove into 
sight, with a broad smile on his rather leathery 
features. 

“This is the boy as done it !” he cried, slapping 
Mark on the back. “Showed up the meanest 
swindler this camp ever struck.” 

“Where is Sag Ruff?” asked Mark. 

“Gone, — an’ he won’t dare show his face on 
this trail ag’in, to my way o’ thinkin’.” 

“I am sure I don’t want to see him again.” 

“Pie’ll turn up some day, when you least ex- 


94 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

pect it,” said Bob, and told the truth, as later 
events proved. 

“Mark, I owe ye something for saving my 
money,” went on Dixon. 

“I don’t want anything,” was the prompt 
answer. 

“The boys got together after the rail-ridin’ an’ 
duckin’ was over,” went on Maybe Dixon. 
“They made up a purse. Here it is — and you’ve 
got to take it.” 

Dixon handed over the “purse,” which proved 
to be a red bandana handkerchief. Inside was a 
card on which were written the names of sixteen 
men who had contributed to the fund. With the 
card was sixty dollars, in bills and silver. 

“You’ve got to keep it,” said the man “from 
everywhere.” “If ye don’t the boys will be 
mad.” 

“All right, I’ll keep it, then,” said Mark. “I 
am very much obliged and I’ll tell them so, when 
I meet them.” And he kept his word. The 
sixty dollars came in very handy, for funds all 
around were running low again. 

Sunday was spent at Fort Laramie, and bright 
and early Monday morning they took again to the 
trail, which now led across some broad stretches 
of prairie lands, dotted here and there with clumps 
of trees and bushes. Soon they were along the 


SAG RUFF'S THREAT 


95 


Platte once again, and then they left the imme- 
diate vicinity of the river and took to the dry bed 
of a stream which had once been a good-sized 
body of water. By Wednesday they were again 
ascending a ridge. 

“We’ll be getting to the foothills soon,” said 
Mark. “Then is when the real climbing will 
begin.” 

“Not to say anything about when we reach the 
real mountains,” put in Bob. “They say some of 
the spots are fearful.” 

“The question is, are we going through this 
fall or are we going to wait until next spring?” 
came from Si. “We’ve got to do one thing or 
tudder.” 

“Oh, don’t let us wait,” said Mark, impatiently. 

“I don’t know as we can afford to wait,” added 
the former sailor boy. “We haven’t any too 
much money, and if we remain here all winter 
we’ll be stranded in the spring, so far as money is 
concerned.” 

The boys talked it over several nights, while 
seated around the camp-fire. They learned that 
Socket was going through without delay, and also 
several other emigrants with families. 

“If those fellows can get through with women 
and children we ought to be able to get through,” 
said Mark. 


9 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Maybe they won’t get through,” said Maybe 
Dixon, who was present. “More’n one pusson 
has lost his life on a mountain trail in snowy 
weather.” 

“I know that,” answered Bob. “But I, for one, 
am pretty tough. When I was whaling I was 
often out in the north seas in a blinding snow- 
storm and always got back to the ship in safety.” 

“All the same, I reckon a howling snowstorm in 
the mountains is not to be sneezed at,” said Si, 
with a shake of his head. 

There was a general pause. 

“Do we go, or don’t we ?” asked Mark, boldly. 
“I say go on.” 

“So do I.” 

“We’ll risk it.” 

And so it was decided. Maybe Dixon said he 
would accompany them, and made out a list of 
what he thought they ought to take along on the 
long and perilous climb over the Rockies. 

The roads so far had been fair, but now they 
often struck barren spots and places where it was 
next to impossible to get good water. 

“Gosh, how this smells !” exclaimed Si, on get- 
ting a drink one afternoon at a spring. 

“There is sulphur in that water, and also 
magnesia,” answered Mark. 

“Will it hurt one to drink it?” 


SAG RUFFS THREAT 


97 


“I think not — but I wouldn’t drink too much.” 

The next day they came to another spring, this 
time of good, cold water. Over the spring was 
a rude board on which were the words : 

Drink Your Fill Here! 

Thirty-tivo Miles to the Next Good Water! 

“There’s a warning for all,” said Si. “I am 
going to get all I want.” 

“Yes, and we’ll give Darling a good drink too,” 
added Bob. 

They filled their water jug, and also the three 
pails and kettles they carried. To keep the water 
from slopping from the pails and kettles they 
covered the vessels with canvas, tied around with 
strings. 

The next day came traveling of the worst kind. 
The trail was more barren than ever and the hot 
sun poured down upon them mercilessly. Not a 
tree of any kind was in sight, sage was on every 
side, dotting the sand but offering no fodder for 
the cattle. Even Darling would not look at the 
sage. He plodded along with his ears laid back 
and his head bobbing wearily. 

That night they did not build a fire but simply 
lay down to rest in the open, eating a cold and 
rather dry supper. They kept the last of the 


98 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

water until morning, and even then saved a few 
swallows of the precious liquid. 

“We’d be pretty bad off if we didn’t strike that 
spring,” said Mark. “Think of going a whole 
day without water !” 

“Or two days — in this heat,” put in Si. “It’s 
enough to drive one crazy.” 

Slowly they went on, with a great cavalcade in 
front and behind them. Noon came and went 
and the boys calculated that they were still four 
miles from the spring. 

“Never mind, we’ll reach it inside of two 
hours,” said Maybe Dixon, hopefully. “But even 
so, I’d give a dollar this minit fer a good glass o’ 
cold drinkin’ water.” 

“Don’t mention it,” said Mark. “You make 
me more thirsty than ever.” 

On and on they went, until they calculated they 
must be within half a mile of the precious spring. 
Then, of a sudden, they heard a commotion ahead 
of them. 

“Something is wrong sure!” cried Bob, and 
brought Darling to a halt. 

There was a cry, taken up by the pioneers one 
after another, a cry that made the hearts of the 
three boys sink like lead in their bosoms: 

“The spring ahead has gone dry ! There isn’t 
a drop of water for any of us !” 



WITHOUT WARNING A WHEEL CAME OFF. — P. IOT. 
Pioneer Boys of the Gold Fields 




























































































\ 



















CHAPTER XII 

SUFFERING FROM THIRST 

“The spring gone dry?” cried Si, who was the 
first to speak. 

“And I am as dry as a bone myself !” came from 
Mark, with something like a groan. 

“I guess we are all dry enough,” remarked Bob. 
“Even poor old Darling is suffering.” 

“Let us go ahead and make certain the report 
is true,” said Mark. “There may be a little water, 
even if there isn’t much.” 

There was a spark of hope in this remark, and 
they moved forward once more. But alas ! when 
the spring was gained it was found to be practi- 
cally dry. There were only a few drops coming 
from it at a time, and this precious water was 
dealt out to the women and children. 

The boys and Maybe Dixon turned back and 
formed in a group near the head of Darling, who 
was looking as wistfully at the spring as anybody. 

“Darling, it’s too bad, ain’t it?” said Bob. 


99 


ioo PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


“Tough luck, old man !” And he rubbed his hand 
along the mule’s nose. 

“How far to the next spring?” questioned 
Mark. 

This question was on everybody’s lips. It was 
learned that there was, or had been, a small creek 
six miles further along the trail, but whether this 
was still running or had dried up during the sum- 
mer nobody could tell. 

“Well, we may as well go on,” said Mark. 
“Every minute wasted here only makes matters 
worse. The quicker we get to some kind of water 
the better it will be for us.” 

“That’s true,” said Bob. “Forward it is,” and 
he led the mule around half a dozen turnouts 
ahead of them. 

“You’ll die on the trail!” cried several. “Bet- 
ter turn back to where you came from.” 

“No, we are bound for California,” cried Si. 

“California or bust!” added Mark, and Bob 
said the same. 

Josiah Socket was on hand, looking the picture 
of misery. His family were close at hand, and 
for a wonder Mrs. Socket had little or nothing to 
say. 

“I think I’ll go back,” said Socket, dolefully. 
“We can’t afford to die of thirst like this.” 

“Might as well go ahead,” said Maybe Dixon. 


SUFFERING FROM THIRST 


IOI 


‘‘May be more water ahead nor behind/’ And 
then Socket concluded to advance, although with 
a look on his face as if going to his execution. 

The advance was slow, for the trail was fright- 
fully cut up and full of rough spots. They had 
gone less than three miles when without warning 
a wheel came off, letting down one corner of the 
wagon and spilling some of the outfit to the 
ground. 

“More troubles!’’ groaned Bob. “Beats all 
how they seem to be piling up !” 

“Is the axle broken, or the hub?’’ asked Si, 
anxiously. 

“No, only the nut came off,’’ said Mark. 

“And where is the nut?’’ 

“Here’s the nut !’’ cried one of the Socket boys, 
who was trudging on behind them. 

The wheel was put into place again and the nut 
fastened with the wrench they had brought along. 
Then they picked up what had fallen out of the 
wagon and put it in place. All were so tired, hot, 
and thirsty they did not feel like doing a thing. 
But Mark braced them up. 

“Come, boys, we must get some ginger in us, 
if we expect to win out !’’ he cried. “There must 
be water ahead. Let us tramp on until we reach 
it.’’ 

“Forward it is !’’ echoed Si, faintly. “But say, 


102 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


I’d give ’most anything for a dipperful o’ water, 
or buttermilk !” 

“I draw the line on buttermilk,” said Mark, 
who knew little of farm life and did not care for 
the beverage mentioned. 

At last they came in sight of the creek — or 
rather where the creek had been. The water- 
course was moist but that was all. What little 
water it had contained had been used up days 
before. 

“Dished!” said Bob, laconically. 

“The worst luck yet,” murmured Mark. 

“Not a smell,” came from Si. “I thought we’d 
get something, even if it was pretty riley.” 

“Onward it is,” said Maybe Dixon. “Don’t 
stop to cry over spilt milk.” 

“That’s the talk,” said Mark, and they went on 
as before. 

As it grew towards night they could think of 
nothing but water. Nobody wanted to rest with- 
out a drink of something, no matter how bad. 
Their tongues were swollen and all were “spitting 
cotton” as Bob put it. Even poor Darling’s 
tongue hung out and the mule looked the picture 
of suffering. 

“He can’t drag the load much further,” said 
Mark. “For two pins I’d cut him loose and let 
him go on alone.” 


SUFFERING FROM THIRST 


103 


“If we did that, somebody would come along 
and steal our outfit,” said Si. 

“What is it, Sammy?” asked Bob, as one of the 
Socket boys came running up. 

“Pap wants to talk to you,” answered Sammy. 

They halted, and soon Josiah Socket came plod- 
ding along. 

“My hosses is tuckered out,” said he. “I 
reckon your mule is too. Can’t someone go 
ahead and see if there is water in sight, while the 
most of us rest?” 

“I’ll do it!” cried Mark. 

“I’ll go along!” added Bob. “Si, you can stay 
with the outfit. If we find any water we’ll come 
back. And anyway, we’ll be back by morning, 
water or no water.” 

So it was arranged, and Maybe Dixon said he 
would go forward with the two boys. No time 
was lost in starting and they set off at a smart 
pace, considering how they had been traveling 
since early morning. 

At this point the trail was a broad one — that 
is, there were a dozen paths to follow, taken by 
different pioneers, all in search of water on their 
journey westward. As a consequence, they soon 
reached a point where nobody was in sight. 

“We don’t want to get lost,” said Bob. “We 
haven’t even got a compass to steer by.” 


104 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I think I can remember the trail, ” said Dixon. 
“That is, if we don’t turn around too many 
times.” 

Mark was carrying the shotgun, — in hopes of 
seeing some small game that he might bring 
down. Maybe Dixon was armed with a rifle, a 
weapon he had not used since leaving Inde- 
pendence. 

“It’s queer we don’t meet many Indians,” said 
Mark, as they trudged along. So far they had 
only met a handful of the red men and these had 
been little more than beggars. 

“I guess they don’t want to live in such a dry 
country as this,” answered the former sailor boy. 
“We may meet them in the mountains.” 

“Maybe we’ll meet 'em when we don’t want 
to,” said Dixon, and then he put up his hand. 
“Look there !” he said, softly. 

They gazed in the direction pointed out and 
saw a small deer running among the sage bushes. 
Its tongue was hanging from its mouth and it 
looked hot and thirsty. 

“I believe that deer is looking for water!” cried 
Mark. 

“More’n likely, lad,” answered Maybe Dixon. 
“Maybe we’d better follow the critter up instead 
of shootin’ it down.” 

“A deer ought to be able to scent water a long 


SUFFERING FROM THIRST 


I0 5 

way off,” said Bob. “Let us follow the animal 
by all means. Even if it wants to run away, it 
will go towards the water first.” 

They followed the deer, that was too tired to 
do more than lope along at a slow gait. The 
chase led around a small hillock and then to where 
some distant trees were growing. 

“I believe it is going for water!” cried Mark. 
“If so, we are in luck.” 

Soon they were within two hundred feet of the 
clump of trees, which, they now saw, were backed 
up by a series of rocks. The deer was out of 
sight. 

“We’ve lost the deer!” murmured Bob. “But 
I shan’t care if only we find water over there.” 

“I think we shall,” said Maybe Dixon. “But 
how much remains to be seen.” 

All broke into a run and soon gained the first 
of the trees. No water was there and they turned 
towards the rocks. Then Mark caught sight of 
a thin stream of water gushing out from between 
two big stones and set up a shout : 

“Water! water!” 

“Hurrah !” cried Bob. “Now we can get our 
fill and carry the news back to camp.” 

“Hope there is enough to go around,” came 
from Maybe Dixon. 

They rushed to where the water was flowing 


10 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

and found a pool under the stones three feet in 
diameter and a foot deep. The water was clear 
but tasted a little of minerals. Yet to the thirsty 
ones it was the best drink they had ever had. 

“Beats all how good water can taste!” said 
Bob. after getting down and drinking his fill. 

“It’s the very best ever!” cried Mark, enthu- 
siastically. All his former depression of spirits 
had left him. 

When Maybe Dixon arose he wiped his mouth 
slowly with the back of his hand. 

“It’s fit to thank God fer!” he said, and both 
boys said amen. 

The water was so good Mark had to have an- 
other drink. In the meantime Maybe Dixon 
looked again for the deer, but it was out of sight. 

“Poor thing!” murmured Bob. “It needed a 
drink but it wouldn’t stop with us around.” 

“And now it may die of thirst,” added Mark. 

“I wish we had a pail along. We might take 
some water back to camp.” 

“A pailful wouldn’t be enough. Come on — 
we must get the news to the others as soon as we 
can. They will be worrying every minute while 
we are gone.” 

They started to leave the vicinity of the spring 
when they heard a clatter on the rocks. 

“That deer must be coming!” whispered Bob. 


SUFFERING FROM THIRST 


107 


“If so, maybe I’ll get a shot,” said Maybe 
Dixon. 

He raised his hand for silence, and all became 
quiet. The clatter of hoofs continued, and then 
came a snort of commingled disappointment and 
anger. Looking up, they saw a big elk standing 
and gazing at them. Then another elk appeared 
and soon a third and a fourth. 

‘‘Hullo, what does this mean?” whispered Bob. 

“It must be their drinking place,” said Mark. 
“And they don’t like it that we are here.” 

“Look out! They mean fight!” exclaimed 
Ma)d>e Dixon, and raising his rifle he fired at the 
elk nearest to him. The animal staggered and 
fell over the pool. Then it arose, gave a snort, 
and plunged with lowered antlers directly for 
Mark. 


CHAPTER XIII 


A FIGHT WITH AN ELK 

“Look out, Mark, he is coming for you !” 

“Jump out of the way, or he’ll horn you sure!” 

Such were the cries uttered by Bob and Maybe 
Dixon, as the big elk charged upon Mark. 

The boy was taken somewhat by surprise, but 
he did not lose his presence of mind. He made a 
quick leap to one side, and the elk struck one of 
the trees growing close to the pool. Then, be- 
fore the animal could turn, Mark blazed away 
with his shotgun, hitting the elk in the side of 
the head. 

“That’s the way to do it,” said Maybe Dixon, 
who was reloading with all speed. 

The shots had caused the other elk to depart in 
haste. But the wounded animal was more ugly 
than ever, and nqw made a leap for Bob, who had 
just picked up a heavy stone. The former sailor 
had let drive, hitting the elk in the nose. Then, 
as the animal paused once more, Maybe Dixon’s 
rifle spoke up a second time, and a ball passed into 
108 


A FIGHT WITH AN ELK 


109 

the elk’s stomach. The animal fell over with a 
snort and a grunt and began to paw the air wildly. 

“Hurrah ! we’ve got him down !” cried Mark. 
“Now let us finish him.” 

“I am willing,” said Bob, and threw another 
stone, hitting the elk a sharp blow in the skull. 
Then Mark ran close and discharged the shotgun 
into the animal’s vitals. This finished the elk, 
and the game gave a final convulsive kick and 
lay still. 

“Now we’ve got meat as well as water!” cried 
Mark, when the battle was at an end. 

“Load up,” said Maybe Dixon, hurriedly. 
“Those other critters may be around.” And 
Mark did reload. But none of the elk showed 
themselves, nor did the small deer put in an ap- 
pearance again. 

By their united strength they hoisted the elk’s 
carcass into the branches of a low tree, and then 
set off on the return to camp. They all felt so 
happy that the walk back did not bother them, 
although in the morning Bob complained some- 
what of sore feet. 

“Water, and all you want!” cried Mark, on en- 
tering camp, a little after midnight. “And we’ve 
got better news still,” he added. 

“Did you strike a gold mine?” questioned one 
of the Socket boys. 


no PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


“No, we didn’t strike a mine, but we struck an 
elk, and killed him too.” 

“Then we’ll have some fresh meat to-morrow,” 
said Si. “Good enough.” 

The stars were shining brightly, so it was de- 
cided to move on to the spring without delay. 
Our young friends and the Sockets did so, and 
were soon followed by at least a score of others. 
Fortunately the water held out, for which all were 
thankful. By noon of the next day a hundred 
pioneers were encamped around the spring, filling 
their pails and buckets and dishpans. The pool 
kept filling up steadily, the overflow disappearing 
in a sink-hole among the trees. 

“We must put a sign on the reg’lar trail, point- 
ing to this spring,” said Maybe Dixon. “Maybe 
it will help a whole lot of folks.” And the sign 
was put up before they left that vicinity and re- 
mained up all the time that the rush to the gold 
fields was on. 

The elk was cut up in the morning and the 
meat passed around, the boys and Maybe Dixon 
getting flour, beans, and coffee in return. Fresh 
meat was a rarity and the boys enjoyed their 
steaks and pot roasts exceedingly. In return for 
an extra juicy steak Mrs. Socket baked them some 
more bread and also a batch of pancakes which 
Si declared tasted “like hum.” 


A FIGHT WITH AN ELK 


in 


Once again they passed on, with the same long 
procession of emigrants before and behind them. 
Other springs had been found, and soon some 
heavy rains caused the dried-up springs to flow 
again, so nobody suffered quite as much from 
thirst. But now the road was bad and more than 
once poor Darling and the Socket horses went up 
to their breasts in the sand and dirt. This made 
extra work all around and there was constant 
grumbling all along the line. 

“We 11 earn all the gold we ever git,” said one 
old man to Mark. “I’m goiiT back.” And he 
started for home that very afternoon, and more 
than a dozen followed. But the majority merely 
set their teeth and kept on, trusting that in the end 
they would be well rewarded for their pains. 

Two days later Mark fell in with a pioneer he 
had met several times before. This man, whose 
name was Bender, nodded pleasantly and walked 
with Mark for several miles. 

“I believe you’re the lad that showed up Sag 
Ruff and his crooked ways,” remarked Bender. 

“I am.” 

“I met Ruff three days ago. He feels mighty 
sore over what happened.” 

“Is he bound west?” queried Mark. 

“Yes, and if I were you I’d keep my eyes peeled 
for him, lad. He’s a bad egg if ever I saw one.” 


na PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I know that. He spoke of me, did he?” 
mused Mark. 

“That he did. He said it was the one desire of 
his life to square up with you.” 

“He told you that?” 

“Oh, no, not me. He wouldn’t dare to speak 
to me — I’d plug him quick. He was talking to a 
pal of his — fellow by the name of Gannon — Soapy 
Gannon they call him. He’s another bad egg, 
but too cowardly to be very harmful. Soapy is 
Ruff’s tool for dirty work when there ain’t much 
danger. I was at the camp and overheard the 
talk between them.” 

“Then I had better watch out,” said Mark, with 
a serious look on his face. 

“Do so by all means. You don’t want to take 
chances with a fellow like Sag Ruff — nor with 
Soapy Gannon either,” went on the man, and then 
talked of something else. 

The taste of fresh meat had made the three 
boys eager to try their hand at bringing down 
more game, and one day Mark and Bob took to a 
side trail, thinking they might stir up some prairie 
hens if nothing larger. Both had shotguns, hav- 
ing borrowed one weapon from Josiah Socket. 

It was a cool, clear day, with a suggestion of 
fall in the air, and the boys felt in the best of 
spirits as they hurried along. They had agreed 


A FIGHT WITH AN ELK 


”3 

to meet Si, Dixon, and the Sockets at the ford of a 
river ten miles further to the westward. 

“I can tell you one thing, Bob,” said Mark, 
“this beats sitting in a stuffy office, copying legal 
papers.” 

“I can imagine so, Mark. But it’s too bad you 
had to leave under such a cloud.” 

“Yes, that is the one thing that makes me sad. 
My step-father will never believe in my inno- 
cence.” 

“Yes, but he can’t prove that you took that 
money.” 

“No, but it looks black against me.” 

“Maybe he won’t think you guilty — if you come 
home with a big bag of gold.” 

“Maybe that’s true — as Dixon would say,” and 
Mark smiled faintly. “Mr. Powers thinks a heap 
of money.” 

“Well, so do we — or we wouldn’t undergo these 
hardships to get it.” 

The boys trudged along until they reached the 
edge of some timber, and here came to a gurgling 
brook, where they stopped for a drink. They 
were about to go on, when Bob pointed to some 
prairie hens, sitting in a bit of a clearing a hun- 
dred or more yards away. 

“Let us both fire,” whispered Mark. “You can 
fire to the right and I’ll fire to the left.” 


1 1 4 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

Bob was willing, and creeping a little closer 
they raised the guns. 

'‘All ready?” 

“Yes.” 

“Then fire!” 

Bang ! bang ! went the two shotguns, almost as 
one piece, and two of the prairie hens fell over 
while three more began to flutter around wildly. 
The others lost no time in disappearing into the 
timber. 

“Come, we must get the wounded ones, too!” 
cried Bob, and started forward. One was caught 
with ease and its neck wrung. Then a second 
flew straight up into Bob’s face. 

“Hi ! get out of that !” screamed poor Bob and 
tried to beat the fowl off. As he did this Mark 
caught it from behind and quickly dispatched it. 
Then Bob caught the other fowl and killed that 
too; and the brief excitement came to an end. 

“Five prairie hens,” said Mark, surveying the 
game. “Not so bad for a start.” 

“One thing, we won’t go back skunked,” an- 
swered his chum, with a grin. 

“Oh, we are going to get a good lot more game 
than this, Bob.” 

“I trust so. But ‘you can’t vos alvays some- 
dimes dell,’ as the Dutchman said,” added the 
former sailor lad. 


A FIGHT WITH AN ELK 


*5T 


With the game slung over their shoulders, they 
advanced into the timber, finding a trail which 
seemed to run due westward. They had not gone 
far before they caught sight of a small deer and 
both went after it on a run, but it got away from 
them behind some trees. 

“We must go ahead with more caution after 
this/’ said Mark. “We are making too much 
noise.” 

In less than an hour they found themselves in 
the very heart of the forest. Great trees grew on 
all sides of them, and the monstrous roots were 
anything but easy to climb over. In one spot 
were thick masses of vines, utterly barring their 
further progress in that direction. 

“Say, I don’t like this !” exclaimed Bob at last. 
“This forest is getting thicker and thicker.” 

“Just my idea,” answered Mark. “I thought 
we would be through to the other side before 
this.” 

“It’s wider than I imagined. Perhaps it keeps 
on for miles, Mark.” 

They came to a halt, not knowing exactly what 
to do. Then Mark scratched his head. 

“Shall we go back, Bob ?” 

“Not if we can reach that river by going 
ahead.” 

“It’s pretty dark under these trees.” 


IT 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“So it is.” 

“Do you know which is west, now that the sun 
has gone under a cloud ?” went on Mark seriously. 

“The west? Why — er — the west is — let me 

see ” Bob looked around in bewilderment. 

“Hang me if I know where the west is !” he ejacu- 
lated. 

“And I am in the same fix.” 

“That’s bad, Mark. Let us go back !” 

“I am willing, but where is the trail we were 
following?” 

“I think — let me see — we came around those 
vines from — No, we didn’t — we ” 

“Don’t you know for certain?” 

“No. Do you?” 

“I do not.” 

“Jerusalem ! We are lost !” 

“Exactly what I think.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE STEALING OF THE OUTFIT 

Si drove Darling and the outfit down to the 
ford of the river, and there waited for the return 
of his two partners. Maybe Dixon was with him 
and the Socket family were close behind. 

“When do you expect the boys back?” asked 
Josiah Socket, as he drove up and allowed his 
horses to drink before crossing. 

“I suppose they will be along before a great 
while,” answered the former farm lad. 

“I hope they shoot something wuth shooting,” 
put in Maybe Dixon. 

“There ought to be some game in that big 
woods,” came from Mrs. Socket. “But they have 
got to know how to handle a gun. Now Josiah 
can’t shoot fer shucks. Once he went after some 
rabbits and ” 

“I can shoot,” interrupted Josiah. “But I 
don’t care much for the sport. Well, I’m a-goin’ 
on,” he continued, and commenced the task of 
reaching the other side of the stream. Soon he 


1 7 


1 18 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

was on the other bank and out of sight behind 
some tall brushwood. 

Si watered the mule and unhooked him and 
then sat down on a grassy bank to rest. Maybe 
Dixon filled a pipe and fell to smoking. 

As the pair sat there they did not notice the 
arrival of two men on foot at the ford. But the 
new arrivals saw Dixon and the former farm 
youth, and one quickly pulled the other out of 
sight behind some trees. 

“What is it, Sag?” asked one of the men. 
“Spotted some of your enemies?” 

“Yes,” answered Sag Ruff. “That man yon- 
der, Soapy, is Maybe Dixon.” 

“Shoo! you don’t say,” returned Soapy Gan- 
non, softly. “I reckon you don’t want to meet 
him.” 

“I do not.” 

“Is that the boy who exposed you?” 

“No, it’s one of his partners. There are three 
of them. The other two ought to be around some- 
where.” 

“Wouldn’t you like to meet that lad who got 
you into trouble?” 

“Would I ?” Sag Ruff’s brow grew dark. 
“Try me and see; that’s all, Soapy!” 

After that the pair walked behind the trees and 
drew still closer to where Si and Dixon sat. They 


THE STEALING OF THE OUTFIT 


119 

listened to the talk of our friends and presently 
learned the truth of the situation. Then they 
heard Maybe Dixon say he would walk into 
the forest and see if he could find Bob and 
Mark. 

“All right, go ahead,” answered Si. “Til wait 
right here for you.” 

Dixon strolled off and was soon lost to view. 
Si, left to himself, leaned up against a convenient 
tree. His eyes closed, and soon he was in the 
land of dreams. 

As soon as Si was asleep Sag Ruff walked into 
the opening. 

“We’ll fix this crowd, Soapy,” said he to his 
tool. “A wagon and a mule won’t go bad for us, 
eh?” 

“Good enough, Sag. But the outfit is known 
on this route.” 

“Yes, but we can take the Salt Lake route. 
I’ve heard it was about as good as this one,” 
added the gambler. 

“Just as you say. But I don’t want to get shot 
down.” 

“Do you want to hoof it all the way to Cali- 
fornia ?” asked Sag Ruff, sharply. 

“No.” 

“Then don’t talk.” 

“What about the boy?” 


120 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“He seems to be sound asleep. Leave him 
where he is.” 

With as little noise as possible they walked over 
to where Darling was tethered and freed the mule. 
Then they led the animal to the wagon and 
hitched him up. They worked swiftly, afraid 
every instant that Maybe Dixon or Mark or Bob 
might appear. 

“Now then, off we go!” cried Sag Ruff, and 
started Darling. The mule made the move some- 
what against his will, but he did not know the true 
situation and finally settled down to a steady pull r 
across the ford and then along a side trail, about 
which the gambler and his tool had heard only 
the day previous. This led through another patch 
of timber, and soon men and outfit were lost to* 
view from the fording place. 

All unconscious of what was happening, St 
slept the sleep of the just for nearly two hours. 
He awoke only when he felt Maybe Dixon’s hand 
on his shoulder. 

“Si! wake up here!” cried Dixon, shaking him. 
“Where’s the turnout, lad?” 

“The turnout?” repeated the farm boy, rubbings 

his eyes in bewilderment. “Why, it’s It’s 

gone !” 

“Exactly. Don’t you know where to?” 

“Why, I — I didn’t know it was gone!” Si 


THE STEALING OF THE OUTFIT 


121 


leaped to his feet and now he was wide-awake. 
“Maybe Dixon, is this some joke?” he demanded. 

“Maybe it is, lad, but if so, it’s none of my 
doings.” 

“Haven’t you seen the wagon and Darling?” 

“Not since I went aw?y. When did you go to 
sleep?” 

“I — er — I think I dropped off right after you 
went off.” 

“That’s about two hours ago.” 

“As long as that! Gracious, I thought I only 
had a' short nap ! Did you find Mark and 
Bob?” 

“No, couldn’t get the least trace of ’em. But 
about the turnout ? Haven’t you any idea at all 
where it is ?” 

“No.” Si looked around. “Somebody has 
been here, hitched up the mule, and drove away 
with our belongings,” he continued, bitterly. 
“And I am to blame ! What will Bob and Mark 
say ?” 

“It might have happened to any of us, lad. But 
we must get on the trail of the thieves.” 

“Yes! yes! Do you think they followed the 
regular trail?” 

“Perhaps so — but if they did, they’ll soon run 
into Socket and some of our other friends. They 
may have been cute enough to take to some side 


122 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

trail. There are plenty of them around here.. 
Everybody don’t go over the mountains by exactly 
the same trail.” 

The two looked around carefully and saw the 
tracks of several feet in the soft soil. They won- 
dered who the thieves could be, but could reach 
no satisfying conclusion. 

Poor Si was utterly discouraged. He had 
heard before of outfits being stolen along the trail, 
and knew that some men guarded their horses 
night and day. At one place they had heard of a 
man being hung up on a tree for stealing a horse. 
There were no prisons and no courts, and the 
pioneers had to take the law into their own hands 
for self-protection. Any serious crime was 
punishable by death. 

Neither Si nor Maybe Dixon knew exactly 
what to do, but at last they hit on a plan they 
thought was best. They put up a stick and in a 
slit at the top left a note for Bob and Mark, ex- 
plaining the situation so far as they knew it. 
They added that they were going to hunt for the 
thief and would be back at that spot sooner or 
later. 

This accomplished, they set off along the river 
bank and then into the timber. The trail was 
fairly smooth and they made good progress over 
the somewhat spongy soil. They did not know 


THE STEALING OF THE OUTFIT 


I2 3 

whether they were right or wrong, but, as Si de- 
clared, it was “better to do something than to do 
nothing.” 

“This is the way things in life change,” said 
Maybe Dixon, as they trudged along. “One day 
everything is bright an’ fair, an’ the next you’re 
in a fust-class mix-up an’ don’t know how to turn 
yourself.” 

“If we don’t get that outfit back, I don’t know 
what we are going to do.” 

“Oh, we must git it back, lad. It won’t do at 
all to lose it. I wish I knew the skunk who 
dared to take it !” 

“Is your rifle loaded?” 

“Sure, and it’s ready to fire, too. I won’t 
parley with sech a miserable thief.” 

“You would shoot him down ?” 

“As dead as a door nail — if I git the chance,” 
added Maybe Dixon, firmly. 

They passed a turn in the river, and then came 
out into something of a clearing. As they did 
this they caught sight of something far ahead, 
just entering another stretch of the woodland. 

“What was that?” questioned Maybe Dixon, 
excitedly. 

“It looked to me like our wagon, but I ain’t 
sure,” answered Si, with equal excitement. “I 
hope it is ours !” 


124 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Hump along a bit faster, lad.” 

They did “hump” along, almost on a run. The 
trail was now hard and smooth, so that anybody 
driving a horse or mule could cover the ground 
with ease. They came to another clearing and 
once more caught a brief glimpse of something in 
front. 

“I believe it is our wagon!” cried Si. “Any- 
way the back certainly looks very much like 
it.” 

“I think I saw a man on the ground, walking,” 
added Maybe Dixon. 

“Then there must be two thieves 

“There may be more.” 

“What can we do if there are a whole crowd 
of them?” questioned Si, in sudden dismay. “We 
can’t fight half a dozen with only one rifle and 
this old hoss pistol of mine.” 

“If they are too many for us we can follow 
them on the sly until we come to some place where 
we can git help, Si. Anybody who is honest will 
help us to run ’em down.” 

They went on as before, and in quarter of an 
hour came to another clearing, long and narrow, 
and not far from the bank of the stream, which 
seemed to wind in and out through the forest. 
Here they got a fairly good look at the turnout 
ahead of them. 


THE STEALING OF THE OUTFIT 


I2 5 


“It is our outfit, sure enough !” declared Si. 
“Yes, and the driver is licking old Darling 
hard,” added Maybe Dixon. “They are bound to 
git away with the turnout if they can !” 


CHAPTER XV 

A SNAKE, A DEER, AND A SURPRISE 

Let us now return to Bob and Mark at the time 
they found themselves lost in the mighty forest. 

For several minutes the two youths stared 
around them in great perplexity, not knowing 
what to do next. 

“This is a fine state of affairs, I must say,” 
groaned Mark, presently. “Bob, we are worse 
than a couple of children.” 

“It’s like bein’ at sea without a compass,” de- 
clared the former sailor lad. “We don’t know in 
what direction to steer to make port.” 

“Well, one thing is certain, we can’t stay here 
all day.” 

“We can if we have to.” 

“Don’t you want to make a move?” 

“I don’t want to get tangled up any worse than 
I am now. I’ve got an idea,” went on Bob, sud- 
denly. 

“What is it?” 


126 


A SNAKE , A DEER, AND A SURPRISE 127 

‘Til climb one of the big trees around here and 
take a look as to how the land lays.” 

“Good enough ! We were a pair of geese not 
to think of that before. I can go up with you.” 

But when it came to climbing, Mark decided to 
let the former sailor boy go it alone. He gave 
Bob a boost and up went the lad in true nautical 
style with hardly an effort. 

“You can climb, that’s sure,” said Mark, admir- 
ingly. 

“Always could,” answered Bob from above. 
“Went clear up to the masthead before I was on 
my first ship a week.” 

“Didn’t it make you dizzy?” 

“Not in the least.” 

Mark remained at the foot of the tree, while 
Bob mounted higher and higher. Presently the 
former sailor lad called down that he had reached 
the top and could get a good look on all sides. 

“I can see the river, as plain as day,” he said. 
“It is about a mile from here. And I can see 
some turnouts further off.” 

“Good enough ! Let us walk to the river, and 
then follow it until we reach the fording place.” 

Bob came down to the ground again, and they 
set off through the forest once more, taking great 
care that they should not become turned around 
again. 


128 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I have heard of people being lost in the woods, 
and I' don’t wonder at it now,” observed Mark. 
“It is the easiest thing in the world to go 
astray.” 

As they journeyed along they stirred up some 
small game, but before they could take aim the 
game got out of sight. 

“That shows we are not used to gunning,” said 
Bob, with a laugh. “A regular hunter is on the 
watch all the time.” 

They were still some distance from the river 
when Bob, who was slightly in advance, let out a 
yell which would have done credit to a wild 
Indian : 

“A snake!” 

“Where ?” queried his companion. 

“Right ahead of us.” 

“I see him now,” answered Mark, as the head 
of the reptile was lifted. “Gosh, what a big 
one !” 

“I’d like to know if he is a rattler,” said Bob, 
as he backed away. 

“Perhaps so, Bob. They say that rattlesnakes 
are to be found in all parts of this country.” 

The two boys started to make a detour. As 
they did this Mark gave a yell even louder than 
that uttered by his chum : 

“Another snake!” 


A SNAKE, A DEER, AND A SURPRISE 129 

“Three of them!” roared Bob. “Mark, we’ve 
gotten into a regular nest of them !” 

“Let us get out!” 

The two lads lost no time in retreating. Most 
of the snakes remained where they were, but one 
big fellow glided after them, hissing viciously. 

“Look out, he’s after us, Bob !” 

“Ain’t a rattler, I reckon — leastwise, I don’t 
hear any rattle.” 

“But he is bad enough !” 

“I’ll shoot him!” cried the former sailor boy, 
and raising his shotgun, he blazed away at the 
reptile, hitting it in the neck. At once the snake 
whipped around madly, and the long, rubbery 
body wound itself around poor Bob’s legs. 

“Help me! Save me!” screamed Bob, and 
tried to kick himself loose, but without avail. 

Mark saw his chum’s extreme peril, and rushed 
forward with his own gun. He pressed the bar- 
rel between Bob’s legs and up against the body of 
the reptile, and pulled the trigger. 

The shot at such close range had its full effect 
and the body of the snake was literally ripped to 
pieces by the heavy shot. The reptile fell to the 
ground with a quiver, and Bob lost no time in 
starting to run again. 

“I hope I didn’t hurt you, Bob ?” 

“I — I think one leg is singed, but that don’t 


I 3 0 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

count, Mark! Ugh! what a horrible creature it 
was !” 

“Right you are.” 

“Are the others following?” 

Both looked back but could see nothing of the 
other reptiles. Soon they had given that locality 
a wide berth, and then both breathed a bit 
easier. 

“We must have our eyes open after this,” said 
Mark, as he and his chum reloaded their shot- 
guns. “If that snake was poisonous you had a 
pretty close shave.” 

“I guess I had a pretty close shave as it was,” 
answered Bob, with a shudder. “Of all the hor- 
rible things in this world, I think a snake is the 
worst !” 

“I think so myself.” 

They kept on, and at last reached the river, 
which at this point was broad and shallow, with a 
rocky bottom. They stopped for a drink and 
then gazed up and down the watercourse in per- 
plexity. 

“Is the ford up or down?” asked Mark. 

“Just what I was trying to decide, Mark. I 
rather think it is down.” 

“So do I.” 

“Here is something of a deer trail along the 
stream. We can follow that until ” 


A SNAKE , A DEER, AND A SURPRISE 13 1 

Bob stopped short and leaped behind a bush, 
motioning for his chum to do the same. 

“What did you see?” whispered Mark. 

“A deer ! There he is !” 

“Shoot him, Bob !” 

Bang! went the shotgun of the former sailor 
boy and the deer leaped high in the air. Then it 
sprang into the river and started to swim across. 

“He will get away !” 

“I will give him a shot !” cried Mark, and tak- 
ing hasty aim he fired. The shot went true, and 
the deer turned over on its side and began to float 
down the river. 

“We’ll lose him after all!” cried Mark, in dis- 
appointment. 

“Not much,” said Bob, and ran along the bank, 
throwing off some of his clothing as he did so. 
Then the deer caught on a snag, and after some 
trouble the former sailor boy brought the carcass 
ashore. 

“There’s prime meat for all hands!” said he, 
surveying the game with much pride. “Mark, 
we shan’t go back so empty-handed after all !” 

“I am glad of it,” was the reply. 

They had just pulled the deer up on the bank 
and were wondering how they could best carry the 
game, when they heard a noise beyond the river, 
as of a horse and wagon crashing through some 


I3 2 pioneer boys of the gold fields 

bushes. They looked in the direction and to their 
amazement saw their own wagon and Darling 
moving cdong, driven by Sag Ruff and a man who 
was a stranger. 

“Bob! is it possible?” gasped Mark. 

“It looks as if Sag Ruff had stolen our outfit!” 
ejaculated Bob. “Who is that with him?” 

“I don’t know — perhaps that fellow I heard 
spoken of, Soapy Gannon.” 

“I wonder how they got hold of the outfit?” 

“I am sure I don’t know, but I do know one 
thing ” 

“We must get our outfit back.” 

“That’s the talk.” 

“They are on the other side of the river?” 

“We can wade or swim over.” 

By this time the mule and the wagon, along 
with Sag Ruff and Soapy Gannon, had disap- 
peared behind some trees. The men were urging 
the mule on in every possible manner, beating 
him one minute and coaxing him the next. 

“They have taken to this side trail on purpose,” 
said Mark. “They are evidently afraid of meet- 
ing some of our friends.” 

It was decided to leave the deer and the rest of 
their game hanging in a tree by the riverside. 
Then they searched along the watercourse until 
they found a spot where fording was compara- 


A SNAKE , A DEER , AND A SURPRISE 133 

tively easy. Mark took off his shoes and stock- 
ings, rolled up his trousers, and waded in, and 
Bob followed. 

‘‘Now look to your shotgun,” said Bob, when 
they were safe on the other side. “Those fellows 
may want to fight.” And both loaded with care, 
and then put on their shoes and stockings again, 
and started after the stolen turnout. 

It was no easy walk, and once they made a false 
turn on the trail, getting into a clump of nettles 
which scratched them and tore their clothing. 
But then they reached a level stretch and Mark set 
off on a run, with Bob at his heels. 

“I see them !” cried Mark, a few minutes later. 
“There they go again, behind yonder trees.” 

They continued to run, and soon came up to the 
rear of the turnout. They found Sag Ruff walk- 
ing on one side of the wagon and Soapy Gannon 
on the other. 

“Stop!” cried Mark, and brought up his shot- 
gun. “Stop, you rascals, or I’ll fire!” 


CHAPTER XVI 


GETTING BACK THE OUTFIT 

If ever two men were taken aback they were 
Sag Ruff and Soapy Gannon. They had not 
expected to be followed so quickly and both were 
much disconcerted. 

“Don’t shoot me !” yelled Soapy Gannon, who, 
as intimated before, was a coward at heart. 

“What do you want of me?” growled Sag Ruff, 
and his hand stole toward his pistol pocket. 

“Up with your hands!” cried Bob, as he too 
raised his shotgun. “If there is any shooting 
to be done here, we’ll do it,” he added, with grim 
determination. 

“Don’t you shoot,” answered Ruff, and his 
hand left the pocket and came up in the air, fol- 
lowed by the other. Soapy Gannon already had 
both hands elevated. 

“What do you mean by stealing our outfit in 
this fashion ?” demanded Mark, after an awkward 
pause. 


34 


GETTING BACK THE OUTFIT 


135 

“Who said we were stealing it?” asked Sag 
Ruff in return. 

“We have eyes.” 

“We found this outfit on the trail and didn’t 
know who it belonged to.” 

“That’s it,” added Soapy Gannon, quickly. 
“Not a soul was in sight around it.” 

“Do you expect us to believe that story?” burst 
out Bob, sarcastically. “If you do, you are mis- 
taken.” 

“I might believe it from an honest man, but 
not such a rascal as you,” added Mark. “Sag 
Ruff, you are a scoundrel of the first water !” 

“What have you done to Si Williams and 
Maybe Dixon ?” asked the former sailor lad. 

“Don’t know 'anything about them,” growled 
Sag Ruff. His eyes shifted uneasily from one 
boy to the other. “See here, how long do you 
want us to keep our hands raised?” he went 
on. 

“You’ll keep them up for the present,” answered 
Mark. 

“If you don’t something is going to go off,” 
added Bob. 

“You think you are a pretty smart boy, don’t 
you?” sneered the gambler, turning to Mark. 

“I believe in standing up for myself.” 

“What are you going to do with me?” 


1 36 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“That remains to be seen. I want you to tell us 
where our two friends are.” 

“If you don’t, we’ll make you prisoners and let 
the other emigrants know what you’ve been up 
to,” put in Bob. 

“We didn’t steal the outfit,” insisted Sag Ruff. 
“We found it on the trail, just as I said before.” 

“Where was Si Williams? We left him in 
charge.” 

“Didn’t see a soul around the wagon or mule,” 
put in Soapy Gannon. 

There was another pause. To tell the truth, 
neither of the boys knew exactly what to do. To 
keep the gambler and his tool at bay was one 
thing; to make them close prisoners was quite 
another. In a tussle the rascals might get the 
better of the contest. Both Bob and Mark pre- 
ferred to keep them at a distance. 

“Turn around there,” said Mark, at last, after 
whispering to his chum. 

“What do you want of us now?” asked Ruff. 

“I want you to march back the way you came, 
and keep up your hands.” 

“And if we won’t do it?” 

“There will be trouble, and you’ll get the worst 
of it,” answered Bob, and aimed his shotgun 
squarely at the gambler’s head. 

Muttering imprecations under his breath, Sag 


GETTING BACK THE OUTFIT 


137 


Ruff turned around and Soapy Gannon did the 
same. Then Bob lowered his gun for the moment 
and took the reins of the mule. Darling and the 
wagon were turned around and faced in the direc- 
tion from whence they had come. 

“Now march!” cried Mark, who still had his 
shotgun leveled. “And no monkey work re- 
member, or you’ll get what you won’t like.” 

The outfit was started up, and slowly they pro- 
ceeded through the timber. The trail now led 
from the river and they passed some rough rocks. 

“Here is where we get away !” cried Sag Ruff, 
in a low voice. “Break for it, Soapy — it’s our 
only chance !” 

He leaped for the rocks, and seeing this his tool 
did the same. As they passed out of sight Mark’s 
shotgun went off, but the boy did not have the 
heart to shoot straight at them and the shot 
merely cut through the tree branches overhead. 

“There they go !” 

“Come back here!” roared Bob, dropping the 
reins and taking up his weapon. 

“If you fire again, I’ll fire!” answered Sag 
Ruff, and the next instant a bullet whistled so 
close to Mark’s head that he dodged and fell up 
against the side of the mule. Then Bob fired, 
but the shot merely grazed the gambler’s arm and 
Soapy Gannon’s shoulder. 


138 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Hullo there !” came suddenly from a distance, 
and a moment later Si and Maybe Dixon burst 
into view, running at their best speed. 

“Hullo yourself!” shouted Mark. “You’ve 
come in the nick of time.” 

“Didn’t we see Sag Ruff and another man 
here ?” questioned Si. 

“You did.” 

“Where are they now?” 

“Run away.” 

“Are you shot?” 

“No, but I think we had a narrow escape,” an- 
swered Mark. 

They listened and heard Sag Ruff and Soapy 
Gannon talking at a distance. Soon they heard 
a splash, as the two men plunged into the river, 
and then all became silent. 

“They have run for it,” said Bob. “And I 
must say I am glad of it.” He was pale from 
excitement. 

“It was all my fault,” said Si, as soon as the 
crowd had calmed down a little. “I went to sleep 
when I had no business to,” and then he told his 
story. 

“We can be thankful we got the outfit back so 
quickly,” said Maybe Dixon. “Had they gotten 
away for thirty or forty miles maybe we’d never 
have seen this mule an’ wagon ag’in.” 


GETTING BACK THE OUTFIT 


*3 9 


“After this we must be on our guard,” said 
Mark. 

“I know something to do,” put in Bob. “Tie 
a small string to the wagon and run it to where 
we are sleeping. In the dark a thief won’t see 
the string, and if he tries to pull away the wagon 
the string will pull somebody and wake him up.” 
This, later on, was done, and worked very well. 

As soon as the excitement was over, the whole 
party pushed along near to the spot where Bob 
and Mark had left their game. Then the deer 
and the prairie hens were placed in the wagon and 
they went back to the camp at the ford. 

“I am hungry enough to eat anything!” de- 
clared Bob. “A bit of venison will taste prime.” 

The deer was skinned and cut up, and soon they 
had some fine steaks broiling over a blaze Si 
started. They took their time over the meal, and 
while eating discussed the situation from every 
possible point of view. 

“We really ought to bring Sag Ruff and his 
accomplice to justice,” said Mark. “But I hate 
to lose time trying to do it.” 

“We can’t afford to lose no time — if we are 
going to git over the Rocky Mountains afore cold 
weather sets in,” said Maybe Dixon. “We want 
to hustle right along.” 

“Just what I’ve been thinking,” said Si. “I’d 


i 4 o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

hate most awfully to get caught in the mountains 
in freezing weather. Why, we’d be frozen stiff !” 

“And maybe we’d lose our way,” went on 
Maybe Dixon. 

“All right then, let us hustle,” answered Bob. 

The hustling began the very next day, and con- 
tinued uninterruptedly for over a week. They 
made excellent progress and were soon in the very 
heart of the mountains. It was cold and clear, 
and they saw some signs of snow, but it did not 
come. 

The Sockets were traveling with them again. 
The boys had given them some of the venison and 
two prairie hens and in return Mrs. Socket made 
them some fresh bread and, on Sunday, a splendid 
loaf cake. She also cooked them a pot of good 
soup, which Si declared tasted more like “hum” 
than ever. The oldest Socket girl, named Mary, 
darned their stockings and also mended their un- 
derwear, which was a “real lift,” as Maybe Dixon 
expressed it. 

“I ain’t no good with a thread an’ needle an’ 
never was,” said the pioneer. “It takes me about 
an hour to git the thread in the needle, an’ I never 
kin find the holes in a button when I want for to 
sew it on.” 

So far Darling had done exceedingly well and 
the boys agreed that a real prize had been gained 


GETTING BACK THE OUTFIT 


14 1 

by Bob in purchasing the animal. But when they 
were almost in the very heart of the Rockies the 
plucky little mule went lame, why nobody could 
exactly tell. 

“He's got a rock sore, that’s wot,” said Josiah 
Socket. “Comes from walkin’ on the rocks. He 
ought to be turned out into pasture fer a spell, 
then he’d be all right.” 

“How you talk, Josiah Socket!” burst out his 
spouse. “Turn him out to pasture indeed! As 
if the pasturing was a-layin’ around loose in these 
mountains an’ the boys didn’t have nuthin’ else to 
do but to watch him while he got well. Can’t 
you do something, so as they can go ahead with 
the critter somehow ?” 

“Couldn’t we bind it up in soft cloth?” sug- 
gested Mark. 

“Might try it,” said Josiah Socket, and in the 
end a soft shoe, made of an old sponge and a bit 
of blanket, was tied on the lame foot, which was 
first greased thoroughly. This did some good, 
and poor Darling hobbled along in fairly good 
shape but at a reduced rate of speed. 

Two days later the boys reached the end of the 
wagon trail on that particular route. The re- 
mains of wagons lay on all sides, showing that it 
had been necessary to abandon them. 

“You might get through with your wagon,” 


1 4 2 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

said one gold hunter, who had been across the 
mountains twice. “But it is more trouble than it 
is worth. Better make packs of yer outfit and 
cross on foot.” 

“Well, we won’t lose much by leaving the 
wagon,” said Bob. “It’s about used up anyway.” 
What he said was true. The rough traveling had 
caused the turnout to break down more than once 
and they had spent many hours in making it fit to 
use. A few more heavy jolts would cause it to 
fall to pieces. 


CHAPTER XVII 


AMONG THE INDIANS 

The day after they abandoned the wagon, and 
divided the outfit into packs, the young pioneers 
found themselves on something of a plateau 
among the Rockies. Each carried a stiff load on 
his shoulders, and what was left of the outfit was 
strapped to the back of the mule, — enough to 
make Darling move along slower than ever. 

They had come over a broken trail, where they 
had often to leap from one rock to the next. 
More than once one or another of them had fallen, 
and Si had received a wrench of his left ankle 
that hurt him considerably. 

“This ain’t walking over no farm,” grumbled 
Si, as he limped on. “I hope the trail don’t get 
any worse.” 

“I am afraid it will be worse before we get 
through the pass,” said Mark. “These are not 
called the Rocky Mountains for nothing.” 

“Boys, I saw some Indians just now!” cried 
143 


144 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

Maybe Dixon, who was in advance. “About a 
dozen of them, on ponies.” 

“Where?” cried the lads, in concert. 

“Over yonder.” Maybe Dixon pointed with 
his hand. “They are gone now — behind the spur 
of rocks.” 

The boys were curious to see the red men — 
having met so few on the trail, but when they 
reached the spur of rocks the Indians were no- 
where in sight. 

That noon they had to care for Darling’s foot 
again and this took some time. In the meanwhile 
the Sockets went on, leaving them alone. They 
were just about to proceed when three Indians 
rode up. They were a dirty set, with faces sadly 
in need of washing, and long, talon-like finger 
nails. 

“Ugh! Give Indian tobacco,” said one. 

“Give Indian sugar,” said a second. 

“Blue Water cold — give um blanket,” came 
from the third. 

“I haven’t any tobacco to spare,” said Maybe 
Dixon, who carried only a small pouchful. 

“The sugar is about gone,” added Si. 

“We need our blankets,” put in Mark. “Where 
are your own ?” 

The Indians looked disappointed and their 
painted faces grew dark. 


AMONG THE INDIANS 


M5 

“No give poor Indians nothing?” asked the 
fellow who had first spoken. 

“We haven’t anything to spare,” said Bob. He 
and the others had already learned that the more 
the red men got from the white travelers the 
more they wanted. 

The Indians continued to beg for something 
and at last were given some beans and a small bit 
of venison. Then they turned their ponies and 
galloped away over the rocks. 

“We are well rid of them,” said Mark, with a 
sigh of relief. 

“That is, if they don’t come back,” returned 
Maybe Dixon, dryly. 

“Do you think they will?” questioned Si. “I 
shan’t give them a thing more.” 

“I didn’t like their looks,” remarked Bob. 
“They seemed a treacherous lot.” 

They passed on until nightfall. It was very 
cold and they were glad enough to bring in such 
firewood as was handy and start a big blaze. 
Around this they huddled and cooked their 
supper. 

“We’ll be up against winter for certain putty 
soon now,” said Maybe Dixon. “Maybe it will 
catch us afore we know it.” 

“Oh, I trust we get out of the mountains before 
it comes,” answered Mark. 


i 4 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

All were utterly worn out from the day’s travel- 
ing and glad enough to lie down to rest. They 
found a little patch of brushwood growing among 
the rocks, and there proceeded to make themselves 
as comfortable as circumstances permitted. It 
was no soft bed, but it was the best to be found, 
and nobody thought of grumbling. 

Mark had been asleep about two hours when he 
awoke with a sudden start. He had been dream- 
ing of home and of his step-father, and imagined 
Jadell Powers had him by the foot and was drag- 
ging him across the floor of the dingy law office. 

He opened his eyes widely and stared around 
him. All was dark, but in the gloom he dis- 
cerned several forms moving around. The forms 
were those of Indians, and the red men were going 
through the packs which lay beside the mule. To 
the packs and the mule was attached a light string 
and the other end of the string was tied to Mark’s 
foot. 

“Indians !” he burst out. “Hi ! wake up ! The 
Indians are here!” 

His cry was so shrill that it awoke everybody in 
the camp, and all leaped to their feet. 

“What’s up?” 

“Where are the Indians?” 

“There they go!” answered Mark. “They 
were at our packs.” 


AMONG THE INDIANS 


*47 


“The old Nick, you say!” burst out Maybe 
Dixon. He reached for his rifle, which rested 
under him. “I’ll give ’em something to remember 
us by !” 

But before he could take aim the Indians had 
vanished in the gloom of the night. They heard 
the footsteps resounding on the rocks, then heard 
the red men mount their ponies and gallop away. 

“They are gone,” said Bob. “I say, I don’t 
like this at all !” 

“Nor I,” came from Si. He gave a shiver. 
“They might have murdered every one of us while 
we slept !” 

“That is so,” said Mark. 

“How did you happen to spot them?” 

“They must have pulled on the string which 
was fastened to my foot. I’ve used the string 
ever since Sag Ruff ran off with the outfit.” 

The fire was stirred up and they took a good 
look around that vicinity. But the Indians were 
gone, nor did they return that night. 

“I suppose it would be best for somebody to 
remain on guard every night after this,” said 
Mark, after the search had come to an end. 
“We’d be in a pretty pickle if we lost our out- 
fit.” 

“We’d starve to death,” said Si. “Especially 
if they happened to steal our guns, too.” 


1 48 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Well, we can divide up each night and each 
take his turn at watching,” said Bob; and so it 
was arranged. 

The next day they overtook the Sockets, who 
had had a small breakdown. They, too, had met 
the Indians and had given them a few things. 

“I was afraid they’d steal some of the children 
if we didn’t give them something,” said Mrs. 
Socket. “They looked at the girls so sus- 
piciously.” 

“If they stole me, I’d die, I know I should!” 
declared Mary Socket. She was a tall, thin girl, 
but rather good-looking, and with a head of heavy 
brown hair. 

The whole party proceeded together the next 
day, and that night each of the men and boys took 
his turn at staying on guard. 

“Two hours on duty and eight off isn’t so bad,” 
said Mark. “We can stand that easily enough.” 

“Eight hours of sleep is enough for anybody,” 
returned Bob. 

“I like to rest my feet as much as I like to 
sleep,” said Si. The constant walking over the 
rough rocks hurt his feet not a little. Mark did 
not mind it so much, being used to the hard city 
pavements. 

The snowstorm that had been promised started 
in the next day about noon. There was a gentle 


AMONG THE INDIANS 


149 


breeze at the time, blowing from the northward. 
The snow was not very thick, so they continued to 
go on until nightfall, when they reached the be- 
ginning of the pass proper, at an altitude many 
hundreds of feet above the level of the sea. 

“I wish we were through the pass,” said Mark. 
“I shan’t mind the snow so much when we are 
coming down from the mountains.” 

“Even then it will be bad enough,” said Maybe 
Dixon. “I’d rather be in camp at the foot of the 
mountains when real winter hits us.” 

During the night the storm cleared away, much 
to their satisfaction. The fall of snow was only 
a few inches deep and this did not interfere very 
materially with their progress, although it made 
the trail rather slippery and treacherous in 
places. 

“Want to be careful where you walk,” said 
Josiah Socket, who was in advance with Maybe 
Dixon. “It won’t pay to git a tumble on sech 
rocks as these.” 

Bob and Mark were alongside of the mule. 
Darling had recovered somewhat from his lame- 
ness and was doing remarkably well, much to 
their satisfaction. 

“What’s the matter?” called back Bob to Si, 
who was in the rear. 

“Foot’s sore again,” was the doleful answer. 


1 5 o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Can we do anything for you, Si?” asked 
Mark, kindly. 

“Nary a thing that I know on,” grumbled the 
former farm lad. “I reckon I’ve got to grin and 
bear it.” And he shut his teeth hard. 

“It’s a pity Darling is so loaded up. Otherwise 
you might ride on his back,” said Bob. 

“And have him pitch me over his head on the 
rocks? No, thank you. I’ll keep on walking 
and get there somehow,” said Si. 

The way kept growing worse constantly, until 
they had to make certain of one step before they 
ventured the next. 

“Thank goodness it isn’t snowing,” said Mrs. 
Socket. “If it was, I don’t know what we would 
do.” 

“They tell me the pass is better a bit further 
on,” said Maybe Dixon. “We’ll have just a little 
more climbing to do, and then the worst of it will 
be over.” 

“Well, the journey can’t come to an end any 
too soon for me,” said the woman. “Land sakes 
alive! if I had known what we were to go 
through with, I’d never ’a’ started in the wide 
world.” 

“We want to make the most of the clear 
weather,” said Bob. “Unless I miss my guess, 
it is going to snow again before very long.” 


AMONG THE INDIANS 


* 5 * 

“Right you are,” answered Josiah Socket. 
“The hull air is full o’ snow.” 

Half a mile more was covered, and Bob and 
Mark were still by the side of the mule, when the 
latter suddenly looked back. 

“Where is Si ?” he cried. 

“Si ? Isn’t he here?” came from Mark. 

“I don’t see him.” 

“Neither do I !” 

“What’s the matter, boys?” called out Maybe 
Dixon, turning back. 

“We can’t see Si,” answered the former sailor 
lad. 

“Can’t see him? Wasn’t he with you?” 

“Yes, but he dropped behind, to fix his shoe.” 

They began to call for the former farm lad, 
but without avail. Si was neither in sight nor 
hearing. 

“Something has happened to him,” groaned 
Mark. “Perhaps he has fallen over some steep 
rocks and been killed !” 


CHAPTER XVIII 


SI TAKES A TUMBLE 

As has been said, Si had stopped to fix his shoe, 
which now hurt him more than it had for some 
time. 

As he was bending over, the wind took off his 
cap and blew it across the trail. The headcover- 
ing lodged in some brushwood growing at the 
side of a steep incline. 

“Drat the luck!” murmured the former farm 
boy, and having adjusted the shoe once more, he 
started to regain the cap. 

This was not so easy as it looked, and before Si 
knew it, he was slipping down the incline. He 
clutched at the brushwood, but it came out by the 
roots, and over and over he rolled, bringing up at 
last against a mass of dead leaves and brush and 
in almost total darkness. 

The fall had taken the wind out of the youth 
and it was several minutes before he felt able to 
stand up and look around him. He had bumped 


SI TAKES A TUMBLE 


*53 

his forehead and likewise one elbow, but, fortu- 
nately, none of the hurts was serious. 

“Gosh! If this don’t beat all creation!” he 
gasped, peering around. “I must have come a 
mile a minit down that slide ! Wonder how I am 
ever to get up again ?” 

The question was not an easy one to answer. 
In coming down he had rounded several curves, 
so that he could not get a view of the point from 
which he had started. The bottom of the pocket 
— for it was nothing more — was not over ten feet 
wide and a hundred or more feet in length. He 
calculated, after he had gotten his wits together, 
that the top was at least two or three hundred 
feet above him. 

“Suppose I can be thankful I wasn’t killed,” he 
murmured, as he gazed up the twisting incline. 
“Beats all how I came down. Wonder if any- 
body in the crowd saw me?” 

He waited for a few minutes, and then, having 
regained his breath, set up a shout. No answer 
came back, and he shouted several times in succes- 
sion. 

“They must have gone on,” he mused. “If so, 
I’ll have to do what I can to get out without their 
help.” 

He walked from one end of the pocket to the 
other twice, examining the incline from every 


i 5 4 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

possible point of view. Presently he discovered 
one place where there were numerous cracks in 
the rocks, and he started to crawl up, slowly and 
cautiously, digging his fingers into the cracks as 
firmly as possible. 

Si has half-way to the top of the opening when 
something happened that scared him not a little. 
From one of the cracks just over his head there 
darted some small animal — what he could not tell. 
It made for the top of the incline, but in its haste 
lost its footing and rolled up against the boy’s 
head. Then, as Si tried to knock it away, it went 
leaping on, while the poor boy, having lost his 
hold, rolled and slid once more to the bottom of 
the pocket. 

“Wonder what it was,” thought the boy, as he 
picked himself up ruefully. “Glad it didn’t bite 
me.” 

He wished he knew if there were more of the 
animals at hand, but as none appeared, he started 
up the incline as before, resolved to keep his grip 
no matter what happened. 

“Hullo, Si !” came suddenly in a hearty voice 
from above. 

“Mark, is that you?” he answered, joyfully. 

“Yes. Where are you ?” 

“Tumbled down this hole.” 

“Are you hurt?” 


SI TAKES A TUMBLE 


155 


“I reckon not. But I am pretty well shook 
up." 

“Can you crawl up?” 

“I am trying to do it, but it is a tough job.” 

“Wait, I’ll get a rope,” answered Mark, and 
ran off. 

The others were all on the hunt, but Mark soon 
called them together. A long rope was taken 
from one of the mule packs and one end was al- 
lowed to slide down the incline. It came close 
to the spot where Si was clinging to the rocks. 

“Got it?” sang out Bob. 

“Not yet. Can’t you let it down a few feet 
more ?” 

“Not very well.” 

“Then leave it as it is and I’ll climb for 
it.” 

It was no easy task to reach the end of the rope, 
and twice poor Si thought that he would roll 
down into the pocket once more. But at last he 
had a firm hold of the lower end and he shouted 
for his friends to haul away, which they did, soon 
bringing him to the surface. 

“I am glad to be on top again,” said he, as he 
came out into the daylight. 

“Be thankful you didn’t break your neck,” was 
Josiah Socket’s comment. 

“I am thankful.” 


156 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“After this we’ll have to be more than careful 
of where we walk,” observed Mark, with a serious 
shake of his head. “There are some fearful pit- 
falls along this route.” 

“Well, I just guess!” cried Maybe Dixon. 
“Why, I’ve heard o’ some gulches four an’ five 
hundred feet deep! Reckon nobuddy wants to 
fall into sech a hole as that, eh?” 

With the promise of another fall of snow in 
the air, the pioneers did not delay long, and soon 
the journey through the mighty mountain pass 
was resumed. They had to go upward for 
several hours, but before nightfall found them- 
selves on the downward trail. 

“Hurrah! we have passed the highest point!” 
cried Mark. 

“And now downward we go to the Land of 
Gold !” exclaimed Bob with equal enthusiasm. 

The thought that the upward climb was at an 
end at last cheered everybody in the party. They 
looked ahead eagerly, but the gloom of night was 
at hand and they could see little. 

“If it was real clear maybe we could see some of 
them gold camps,” said Maybe Dixon, in disap- 
pointed tones. 

“Do you think we are close enough?” asked Si. 

“It ain’t that, lad. In a good clear air one can 
see for a long distance over these mountains.” 


SI TAKES A TUMBLE 


*57 


“Then we’ve got lots of traveling to do yet ?” 

“Yes, — unless somebody has discovered gold 
along this trail. Gold may be in one place as well 
as another.” 

That night they went into camp close to the 
edge of a mighty cliff. Firewood was as scarce 
as “hen’s teeth,” as Si said, and they had to make 
the most of a tiny blaze just big enough to cook 
supper. They ate their food piping hot, which 
warmed them some. Then they got out all of 
their blankets. 

“We are in for a night of it,” said Mark, as he 
looked at the sky. 

“Snow?” queried Bob, laconically. 

“Yes, and a lot of it.” 

“I believe you. Too bad ! when we are so near 
the end of the journey !” 

“Well, as it can’t be helped, we’ll have to make 
the best of it.” 

It was decided that the entire party, including 
the Sockets, should camp together, and the horses 
and the mule were tied up close by. Darling was 
so tired he soon dropped down and fell asleep and 
the other steeds speedily followed. 

Mark had the first watch and Bob and Si fol- 
lowed. Then Maybe Dixon took his turn. By 
this time it was snowing steadily. 

“In for it sure,” said Dixon to Josiah Socket, 


158 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

who relieved him. “I’m afraid we won’t do 
much travelin’ to-morrow.” 

On account of the fall of snow it was not very 
cold, so the party slept fairly well even without a 
campfire. Mark was the first person to stir of 
his own party. 

“Well, we are snowed in surely!” he cried, as 
he gazed around. 

On all sides was a spread of dazzling white, 
and the snow was still coming down steadily. 
The pass behind them was totally blotted out, 
and they could see next to nothing ahead. 

“The wust yet!” groaned Josiah Socket. “I 
calkerlated to be well sheltered by the time the 
snow was a-flyin’. What are we going to 
do?” 

“I know what I am in favor of,” said Mark, 
decidedly. 

“What?” 

“I’m in favor of getting down from this moun- 
tain somehow, to where we can strike better shel- 
ter and plenty of firewood, and water. We can’t 
stay here all winter.” 

Mark’s opinion was the opinion of all. They 
would wait for the snow to stop and then go on. 

It was not until two o’clock in the afternoon 
that the fall ceased. But then the sun came out 
as if by magic, and on they went as rapidly as the 


SI TAKES A TUMBLE 


159 

animals with their burdens could travel. Two 
old miners had come up and they assisted in keep- 
ing to the proper trail. All kept on until dark- 
ness made it unwise to go further. 

“We are getting down,” said Bob. “It is not 
as cold as it was.” And what he said was true, 
the temperature was at least fifteen degrees above 
what they had experienced on the mountains the 
night before. 

The next morning the sun came out again and 
as it rose they started onward once more, re- 
solved to make as much progress as possible. 
They were aiming for the valley of the Yuba 
River, a tributary of the Feather River, where 
gold had but recently been located. 

“I don’t think we’ll do any gold digging this 
winter,” said Mark. “We’ll have to wait until 
next spring.” 

“Well, we’ll be on the ground, when the season 
opens,” said Bob, consolingly. 

“Ready to pick up nuggets, eh ?” put in Si, with 
a broad grin. 

“You’re right, Si,” laughed Mark. “And the 
bigger the better.” 

“Wouldn’t mind finding one worth a million, 
would you?” 

“Better make it two millions while you are at 
it,” came from Bob. 


160 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I am willing to take what comes/' said Mark. 
“But I do hope we find some gold/' he added, 
wistfully. 

“We have certainly gone through enough to 
get it,” added the former sailor lad. 


CHAPTER XIX 


A GLOOMY OUTLOOK 

New Year’s day found the young pioneers 
located in the valley of the Yuba River, in a rude 
cabin which it had cost them a good deal of time 
and trouble to erect. They had come across the 
continent in safety, and now they were impatient 
for the winter to go away that they might start 
their hunt for gold dust and nuggets. 

“Good-by to 1848!” sang out Mark. “May 
the year 1849 P r °ve a fortunate one for all of 
us.” 

“Amen to that,” came from Maybe Dixon, who 
sat by the rude fire-place, boiling a pot of coffee. 
They had very little coffee left and so had to boil 
it a good while, to get some strength out of the 
small quantity used at a time. 

“I wouldn’t mind it so much if we weren’t so 
shy of provisions,” said Bob. “But I can tell you 
what, boys, things are getting mighty low.” 

They all knew that without being told, yet the 
saying of it made the crowd look sober. 

161 


162 T > " !' ’OYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


'‘Do you know what I am going to do?” said 
Maybe Dixon. “I’m going out to-morrow and 
see if I can’t bring down game of some sort.” 

“Let me go with you!” exclaimed Si, eagerly. 

“All right, Si, you can go, — with the shotgun. 
We ought to be able to scare up some rabbits if 
nothin’ else.” 

Close at hand was another log cabin, occupied 
by the Sockets. They too were short of pro- 
visions and had been over several times to borrow 
things to eat. 

“I’ll willingly pay for them,” said Josiah 
Socket, who had brought considerable money with 
him. “I’d give a good bit to have a general store 
handy.” 

“So would we, even though we haven’t much 
money,” said Mark. 

They let the Sockets have what they thought 
they could possibly spare. But it was very little, 
and everybody at both cabins was put, for the time 
being, on half rations or less. At this the smaller 
Socket children set up a protest, which went 
straight to their mother’s heart. 

“Oh, Josiah, we must do something,” sighed 
Mrs. Socket. “Isn’t there any store at all around 
here?” 

Her husband said no, but two days later a 
miner came along who said some provisions could 


A GLOOMY OUTLOOK 


163 

be had at a camp known as the Four Monkeys. 
The camp was forty miles away. Prices were 
frightfully high, but the goods were to be had, if 
a man wanted to pay for them. 

After talking the matter over with Maybe 
Dixon and the boys, it was decided that Socket 
and Mark should pay a visit to Four Monkeys, 
taking Socket’s two horses for the journey. They 
were given minute directions regarding the trail 
to follow, and started away at the same time that 
Maybe Dixon and Si went on a hunt. 

“How long will you be gone, Josiah?” asked 
his wife. 

“Not more than four days — unless the trail is 
very bad,” answered the husband. 

As soon as Mark and Socket had departed for 
the distant camp, Maybe Dixon and Si went out 
on the hunt. This left Bob, Mrs. Socket, and the 
children in the two cabins alone. 

Maybe Dixon and Si were full of expectations, 
but after tramping around for several hours with- 
out seeing game of any kind the face of each took 
on a gloomy look. 

“We ain’t doing much, that’s sure,” grumbled 
the man, as they paused near a series of rocks to 
rest. “Not a smell o’ even a rabbit. It does beat 
all, don’t it?” 

“I am not going to give up yet,” answered Si. 


1 64 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I am not going back until I get something, even 
if it is only one little snowbird,” and he shook his 
head decidedly. 

They had gone through a small patch of timber 
from north to south and now crossed it in the 
opposite direction. They were just rounding a 
series of rocks when Si let out a yell : 

“A bear!” 

“Where?” yelled the man in return. 

“There! He is gone now! Say, he was a 
whopper !” 

“Si, we must get him !” 

“All right, but if we don’t watch out he’ll chew 
us up,” added the former farm lad. “A big bear 
isn’t to be fooled with.” 

“I know it, but we must try and get the meat. 
Is your gun all right?” 

“Yes.” 

“So is my rifle. Come on after him.” 

They were soon at the spot where the bear had 
been. The trail was plainly to be seen and led 
over the rocks, where the wind had blown away 
the most of the snow. 

A good quarter of a mile had been covered 
when they heard a strange grunt ahead of them. 
The next instant the bear came into full view. 
He was up on his hind legs and evidently ready 
for a fight. 


A GLOOMY OUTLOOK 


165 

Maybe Dixon did not stop to think twice but 
blazed away, hitting the animal in the forequar- 
ter. Then Si let drive, and the shot sprinkled the 
bear’s face, putting out one eye. 

Half blinded and suffering intense pain, the 
bear turned as if to flee. But a moment later he 
swung around again and came after Si full 
speed. 

“Out o’ the way!” roared Maybe Dixon. “Out 
o’ the way, or he’ll kill you sure!” 

Si was getting out of the way with all speed. 
He darted behind some trees, made a half circle, 
and then leaped to the top of the very rocks from 
which the bear had come when he first put in his 
appearance. 

In the meantime the man was reloading with all 
possible speed and soon had his rifle ready for a 
second shot. Feeling the necessity for doing his 
best, he ran in close to the bear and blazed away 
at bruin’s head. But just as the rifle was dis- 
charged the bear dropped down, and the bullet 
flew over its mark. 

“You’ve missed him!” screamed Si, and then 
retreated still further, until a low-branched tree 
barred his progress. Without stopping to think 
twice, the former farm lad leaped into the nearest 
branches and mounted out of reach of the 
bear. 


* 166 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


Disappointed, the animal slipped around the 
tree and finally started to come up the somewhat 
sloping trunk. In his excitement, the boy had 
dropped his shotgun on the ground, so he had 
nothing with which to defend himself. 

“Shoot him, can’t you?” he yelled to the man. 
“Hurry up, quick !” 

Maybe Dixon was reloading with all speed. 
But he was nervous and consequently took longer 
than if he had been cool. Before he was ready to 
fire again the bear was following Si to a still 
higher branch of the tree. 

The former farm lad ^vas badly frightened and 
with good reason. The loss of one eye had made 
the bear furious and his one purpose now ap- 
peared to be to get hold of the youth and chew 
him up. 

“Can’t you fire?” sang out the boy, when near 
the top of the tree. 

“I don’t want to hit you,” answered Maybe 
Dixon. “Tell you what, can’t you drop to the 
ground and leave the bear up there?” 

“I’ll try it,” answered Si, and a moment later 
his body came crashing through the branches. 
As he passed the bear he hit the animal on the 
rump. This caused the bear to swing around and 
lose his balance, and boy and beast came down 
together on the ground. 


A GLOOMY OUTLOOK 


167 


Maybe Dixon was close at hand, and before the 
bear coulcl do more than roll over he let drive, this 
time putting a bullet into the animal’s vitals. The 
bear got up, staggered toward Si, who quickly 
darted out of reach, and then tumbled in a heap 
and began to quiver. 

“I guess you hit him that time,” panted Si. His 
face was as white as the snow. 

‘T guess I did,” answered Maybe Dixon. “But 
don’t go near him. He may be shamming.” 

After a few minutes the bear lay still and they 
approached with caution, and Maybe Dixon 
plunged a hunting knife into the animal’s throat. 
Then they were certain the battle royal was at an 
end. 

“Gracious me, but that was a fight !” ejaculated 
Si, who was still trembling. “I thought sure the 
bear was going to eat me up !” 

“We were lucky that he didn’t hug one or tud- 
der to death, Si. He a putty big an’ powerful 
critter, he is!” 

“We’ll have a lot of meat now.” 

“So we will, an’ I am glad of it. I am tired 
of livin’ on half rations.” 

“So am I. Fresh meat is just what we need — 
to help along with the beans and flour.” 

It was no easy task to get the big carcass to the 
cabin. They cut a tree branch for a drag and 


1 68 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

rolled the dead bear upon it. Then both took 
hold of the drag and started over the snow, taking 
to the smoothest trail they could find. 

“We’ll have the juiciest kind of a bear steak for 
dinner to-day,” said Si. “It’s too bad Mr. Socket 
and Mark won’t be here to help enjoy it.” 

“That is so, lad. Well, they can have all they 
want when they come back. In such cold weather 
as this the meat will keep a long time.” 

With such a heavy load they had to rest several 
times on the way. As they made the journey to 
the cabin they kept their eyes open for other 
game, but nothing but a squirrel came to view and 
they did not shoot at this. 

“Let the little chap go,” said Si. “We’ve got 
something more substantial, even if it isn’t quite 
so delicate.” 

“Right you are, Si; a squirrel ain’t more’n 
quarter of a meal anyhow. We’ll save our am- 
munition.” 

Bob was on the lookout for them, and so were 
Mrs. Socket and her children. All ran out into 
the open with exclamations of delight. 

“A bear!” 

“What a fine, big fellow!” 

“Now we will have all the meat we want for 
a while!” 

“Mrs. Socket, in honor of the occasion, I move 


A GLOOMY OUTLOOK 


169 


you cook us one good square all-around meal/* 
said Maybe Dixon. 

“I will do it, Mr. Dixon,” said the lady of the 
camp promptly. “And I am glad to have the 
chance,” she added. 


CHAPTER XX 


AT THE TRADING CAMP 

Josiah Socket and Mark found it no easy 
matter to make their way to the trading camp 
known as Four Monkeys. The distance was only 
forty miles, but the trail was rough and uncertain, 
and more than once they were afraid they had 
taken to a false road. 

“If we have gone astray goodness only knows 
where we will fetch up/’ groaned Josiah Socket, 
at the end of the first day’s journey. “We’ll be 
hopelessly lost, I reckon.” 

“I think we are on the right trail or close to it,” 
answered Mark, hopefully. 

They encamped that night under some thick 
cedar trees, building a fire close by, where they 
cooked such a meal as their rations afforded. 
They had seen no game but wild ducks that had 
been too far off to bring down. 

At daybreak they were astir again and after a 
hasty breakfast mounted and pressed on as be- 
fore. 


170 


AT THE TRADING CAMP 


171 

“We covered all of twenty miles yesterday,” 
said Mark. “And that being so, we ought to 
reach the trading camp by night.” 

“Let us keep on till we do,” answered Josiah 
Socket, who had not relished the camp in the open 
in such wintry weather. 

They pushed the horses as much as possible, 
merely stopping for a short rest and a meal at 
noon. They soon reached a stream the old miner 
had mentioned, and just at sundown saw smoke at 
a distance, coming from the chimney of a log 
cabin to which was attached a long shack or 
shed. 

“Hurrah! here is the place we are looking 
for!” cried Mark. “Here we are at Four 
Monkeys at last.” 

There were seven cabins in the camp, all 
located near the river, which was frozen over 
completely and ridged with snowdrifts. Four of 
the cabins showed signs of life, the others ap- 
peared to be deserted. 

“Those cabins must be for the Four Monkeys,” 
said Mark. 

Their coming to the camp was not noticed until 
they rode up to the door of the largest place. 
Then the barrier was thrown open, and a burly 
man with a round face and a cheery smile put in 
an appearance. 


i 7 2 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Hullo, strangers !” he sang out. “Where did 
you drift from?” 

“From forty miles up the Yuba,” answered 
Josiah Socket. “Heard tell as how you had a 
tradin’ place here.” 

“So I have, but I ain’t got very much left to 
trade with.” 

“But you have something, haven’t you?” asked 
Mark, anxiously. 

“Oh, yes, — some flour and beans and bacon, 
picks, shovels, pans, and such stuff,” answered the 
man. “Take your hosses around to the shed, if 
you will,” he added, and pointed to a door be- 
yond the cabin proper. 

They followed his advice, finding three animals 
already in the building. In the shed was a sign : 

Horse feed inside. 

50 cents a quart. 

Don't let the animal go hungry. 

“Gosh, but hoss feed comes high here,” mur- 
mured Josiah Socket. “Howsomever, the hosses 
shall have all they want this trip. They deserve 
it, they do !” 

There was a door from the shed to the main 
building, and they passed through this, to find 
themselves in a well-heated apartment, piled high 


AT THE TRADING CAMP 


*73 


with stores of various kinds. Around a pot stove 
sat several men, smoking and drinking. All 
nodded pleasantly to the newcomers and made 
room for them, that they might warm up. 

They soon learned that the proprietor of the 
place was Abram Monkey and that he had with 
him three younger brothers, — which state of af- 
fairs had given the trading camp the name of the 
Four Monkeys. The Monkeys were from 
Chicago and had come over the Rockies with a 
heavy pack train during the past summer. Two 
of the brothers were running the trading place 
while the other two had thrown in their fortunes 
with the miners and prospectors. 

“Come over with your whole family, eh?” said 
Abram Monkey to Josiah Socket. “Well, you’re 
a pretty brave fellow, I must say. Hope your 
wife likes it.” 

“She will, after she gets acquainted,” was the 
answer. “But there ain’t none of us likes the 
winter.” 

To be sociable, he treated all of the men present, 
and then began to do his trading. All of the 
commodities to be had were high in price, flour 
being fifty dollars per barrel, beans two dollars a 
quart, bacon and pork a dollar a pound, and even 
tallow candles fetching “two bits,” twenty-five 
cents, each. But little in the way of clothing was 


i 7 4 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

to be had, flannel shirts bringing five dollars 
apiece and army blankets ten dollars each. The 
only vegetables were turnips and cabbages, the 
former worth a dollar a peck and the latter fifty 
cents a head, and rather wormy at that. 

“I am afraid my money won’t go far,” said 
Mark. He had twelve dollars belonging to Bob, 
Si, and himself, and ten dollars that had come 
from Maybe Dixon. 

“Never mind, I’ll stake you for fifty dollars,” 
answered Josiah Socket. “You can pay me back 
when you make your first haul o’ nuggets.” 

“Thank you,” answered Mark, gratefully. 
“You are very kind, Mr. Socket.” 

“I want to be neighborly, lad. Besides, you 
boys and Dixon have done us many favors an’ I 
ain’t forgetting them.” 

Josiah Dixon and Mark spent the best part of 
the evening in picking out the things they wished 
to take along, including some coffee, tea, sugar 
and spices, besides the things mentioned above. 
They also got some cough mixture for one of the 
Socket children and a bottle of liquor for medic- 
inal purposes. As luck would have it, not one of 
the men in camp at Four Monkeys was a hard 
drinker, for which both Mark and Josiah Socket 
were thankful. 

“Can’t see how some fellers can spend all they 


AT THE TRADING CAMP 


*75 


have on liquor,” said Socket. “I like an oc- 
casional glass, but that’s all.” 

‘‘And I don’t want any,” answered Mark. 

“Well, I reckon as how you’re jest as well off 
without it.” 

But although Josiah Socket did not care for 
liquor, he loved his tobacco and took along two 
plugs of “tar heel,” one for himself and one for 
Maybe Dixon, the plugs of a pound each costing 
two dollars. 

They spent the night in one of the cabins, that 
belonging to Abram Monkey’s youngest brother, 
and at sunrise were all ready for the trip back to 
their own camp. 

“Wish you luck!” cried Abram Monkey, as 
they went away. “If you want any more sup- 
plies, call again.” 

“We will,” said Josiah Socket. 

“I’ve got to find some gold first,” answered 
Mark, with a grin. 

“Well, you’ll find it, my boy, as soon as the 
season opens. This land is full of dust and 
nuggets.” 

They took to the trail by which they had come. 
There had been a light fall of snow during the 
night, covering their former tracks, but they re- 
membered many of the landmarks, so had no fear 
of going astray. 


1 76 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“How much did you spend, lad?” asked Josiah 
Socket, as they rode along. 

“Sixty-four dollars.” 

“And I spent an even hundred. Putty ex- 
pensive living, eh? But we’ll be a heap sight 
more comfortable for the rest of the cold weather 
than we have been.” 

“That is true — even if we didn’t invest in 
luxuries,” said Mark. 

“We can buy luxuries after we’ve gathered a 
little heap o’ nuggets.” 

“Mr. Socket, what do you really think of our 
prospects?” 

“Can’t tell, Mark. One day I think we’ll get 
rich, an’ the next I think it was a fool move for 
me to pull up stakes an’ come away out here.” 

“I can hardly wait for spring to come — I am 
so anxious to try my luck.” 

“I am the same way. But we have got to be 
patient.” 

“Do you think we had better stay where we are, 
when the season opens?” 

“That will depend on the reports we hear. If 
we hear of a rich find in some nearby locality I 
think we had best go there.” 

About noon it began to snow again, and then 
they hurried on faster than before, fearful of 
being storm-bound on the trail. They were on 


AT THE TRADING CAMP 


x 77 


foot, the horses being packed with the supplies. 
The walking was not easy and both wished them- 
selves once more at the cabins. 

As they made a turn, about the middle of the 
afternoon, Mark chanced to glance back, and gave 
a sudden cry of surprise : 

“Indians !” 

“What’s that?” asked Josiah Socket, quickly. 

“I just caught sight of three Indians. They 
are out of sight now.” 

“On hossback ?” 

“No, on foot. As soon as they saw me look 
back they skipped behind the trees.” 

“Humph ! I don’t like that, lad.” 

“Neither do I.” 

They hurried on, looking back every few steps, 
but the Indians did not again show themselves. 

“Sure you didn’t make a mistake?” asked the 
man presently. 

“No, I am sure I saw them,” declared Mark. 
“One was a little ahead of the others.” 

“Armed?” 

“I didn’t notice, but they must be.” 

“We’d stand a poor show of defending our- 
selves against a reg’lar band o’ redskins,” mut- 
tered Josiah Socket. “Wish we was to the cabins 
and safe indoors.” 

“So do I.” 


1 78 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

With the Indians on their trail — for they felt 
certain they were being followed — all thoughts of 
resting for the night were driven from the mind 
of each. Yet they felt they could not go two 
whole days and a night without a stop of some 
sort. 

By nightfall it was snowing harder than ever, 
and Mark suggested they leave the regular trail 
and sneak into the forest to the southward. 

“The snow will cover our footprints and maybe 
they will lose us in the darkness,” he added. 

Josiah Socket was willing to try the experi- 
ment, and while passing over a wind-swept turn 
they left their former trail and hurried in among 
the trees. Then they passed over some rocks and 
into something of a hollow, where they came to a 
halt, with some high rocks behind them. 

Here they waited over an hour in the darkness 
without anything coming to disturb them. Then, 
worn out, Mark dropped asleep, leaving Josiah 
Socket on guard for the time being. 


CHAPTER XXI 


ANOTHER BRUSH WITH THE INDIANS 

When Mark awoke all was dark around him. 
He lay quiet for several minutes and then sat 
up. 

“Mr. Socket !” he called out. 

There was no answer, and much surprised the 
youth leaped to his feet. He saw a form some 
feet away and sprang toward it. It was that of 
Josiah Socket, and the man lay flat on his back in 
the snow. 

“What is the matter? What has happened to 
you?” called out the boy and knelt down at the 
man’s side. He saw that blood was flowing from 
a bruise on the right temple. 

For answer there was a groan, and then Josiah 
Socket opened his eyes and tried to struggle to his 
feet. But he was too weak to do so. 

“The Indians!” he gasped. “Our hosses and 
packs ” He could get no further. 

Mark gave one glance around and then ran to 
where the horses had been tied up. Both steeds 


179 


180 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

were gone, and so were the precious packs con- 
taining all the stores they had purchased. 

“Did the Indians take them?” 

“Yes. They came up behind me an’ — an' 
knocked me over,” groaned Josiah Socket. He 
put a hand to his temple. “I thought they were 
going to kill me !” 

“How long ago was this?” 

“I don’t — don’t know. I was knocked out 
clean an’ clear. Oh, Mark, this the worst yet! 
Supplies an’ hosses both gone !” 

“Can’t we follow them up ?” 

“An’ get shot?” 

“I don’t care — I am not going to stand for 
being robbed in this fashion,” answered the youth, 
recklessly. “Those supplies cost too much money, 
and, besides, we have got to have them.” 

In a few minutes Josiah Socket felt somewhat 
better. The cut on his temple was not serious, 
and he washed it with some snow and bound it up 
with his handkerchief. In the meantime Mark 
made a hasty search around and found that both 
of their weapons were at hand, the Indians having 
overlooked them in their haste to get away with 
the packs and the horses. 

The snow had ceased and they made a light and 
lit a couple of cedar boughs for torches. By ex- 
amining the ground they came upon the tracks of 


ANOTHER BRUSH WITH THE INDIANS 181 


four red men, who had moved off in the direction 
of the lower valley, leading the two horses be- 
tween them. 

“Let us follow them/’ said Mark, without 
hesitation. “We ought to be able to bring them 
to terms with the gun and the pistol.” 

Now that he felt a little better, Josiah Socket 
was willing, and keeping their torches shaded 
somewhat, they followed the newly-made trail 
through the forest and down into the valley a dis- 
tance of two miles. It was now growing light in 
the east, telling that the dawn of a new day was 
at hand. 

“I see them !” cried Mark, presently. “Put out 
that torch.” And he threw his own down in the 
snow and stamped upon it. His companion 
speedily followed his example, and both leaped to 
the shelter of some bushes. 

The Indians were at rest, having traveled 
probably the whole of the day before and being 
worn out. They sat in the shelter of some trees, 
with the horses and their packs close by. 

What to do next Josiah Socket and Mark 
scarcely knew. But they were determined to get 
back their belongings even if it cost them some- 
thing to do it. 

“Mr. Socket, haven’t I heard you whistle to 
those horses?” asked Mark, in a whisper. 


1 82 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Certainly — I often call ’em that way. Learnt 
it to ’em when they was colts.” 

“Would they come if you whistled to them 
now?” 

“I think so.” 

“Then let us get behind the trees and get our 
weapons ready for use.” 

The man understood Mark’s plan and did as 
requested. When all was in readiness a clear and 
peculiar whistle was given. At once the steeds 
pricked up their ears. 

“Whistle again!” said Mark, and Josiah Socket 
did so. Then the horses came running toward 
their owner, much to the astonishment of the 
Indians, who leaped up in alarm. 

“Here they come, and with the loads!” cried 
Mark. “Come on !” 

As soon as the horses came up they urged the 
steeds onward, in the direction of the trail to the 
cabins. Then Josiah Socket fired a shot at the 
Indians and Mark did the same. One red man 
was hit in the shoulder and another in the leg,, 
and with howls of pain the Indians ran back and 
out of sight behind some trees. 

“Now we have got to dust for it,” said Mark. * 
“For all we know, they may come after us hot- 
footed.” 

They urged the horses into a run and kept close 


ANOTHER BRUSH WITH THE INDIANS 183 

to the animals’ sides. They expected a shot from 
the Indians, but none came, for the reason that 
the red men were armed only with clubs and bows 
and arrows, and they were too far off for the last 
named to take effect. 

They kept on until Mark was about ready to 
drop from exhaustion. Then coming to a high 
cliff, at the base of which was something of a hol- 
low, they led the horses into the shelter and 
dropped down in the snow and reloaded. 

“See anything of them ?” asked Mark, peering 
along the trail they had left. 

“Not a sign of anything, lad.” 

“If they come we’ll have to fire another shot.” 

“Right you are.’’ 

They rested an hour, and then, as tired as they 
were, went on again. The sun was now out clear 
and strong, so that they could see a long distance 
around them. 

“I see them!” said Mark, after another three 
miles had been covered. “I really believe they 
are getting ready to attack us again !” 

Slowly and cautiously the red men drew closer. 
One limped painfully, showing where a shot had 
taken effect. 

“I’ll fire first,” said Josiah Socket. “They 
don’t deserve no mercy.” 

He raised the gun he carried and blazed away. 


i 8 4 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

The bullet clipped the blanket of one of the 
Indians and he lost no time in dropping to the 
rear. But the others came on, and raised some- 
thing of a war cry. 

‘‘If they can get at us, they will kill us!” 
gasped Mark, and took aim with his pistol. His 
shot told, and one red man fell, wounded in the 
knee. Then the others halted to consult to- 
gether. 

As soon as their weapons were discharged, our 
friends loaded up again and moved onward. Not 
once did they allow the horses to stop and they 
kept on a slow run beside them. Ahead was a 
turn in the trail and they hoped to find a safe shel- 
ter behind some other rocks and crags. 

“Hullo, there is somebody!” ejaculated Mark, 
as the turn ahead was made. “It’s Bob !” 

“And there is Si, too!” put in Josiah Socket. 
“And both are armed !” 

“Hullo there!” sang out Bob, coming up. 
“What the firing about?” 

“Indians,” said Mark. 

“You don’t say!” cried Si. “Where are 
they?” 

“Back of us,” put in Josiah Socket. “I’m glad 
you have the rifle and the shotgun,” he con- 
tinued. 

“We thought we’d come out to meet you and 


ANOTHER BRUSH WITH THE INDIANS 185 

also to look for game,” explained Bob. “I see 
the Indians now.” 

Two of the red men had shown themselves 
around the bend of the trail. They gazed in as- 
tonishment and disappointment at the new ar- 
rivals. 

“Give 'em a dose o' buckshot,” said Josiah 
Socket to Bob. “They deserve it.” 

“So they do,” added Mark. 

Bob brought up the shotgun and let drive. 
The gun scattered widely and both of the red men 
were peppered. With yells of pain they turned 
back and fled to where they had left their com- 
panions. It was the last seen of the Indians for 
a long time to come. 

As soon as they were certain the Indians had 
gone, our friends continued the journey to the 
cabins. Bob and Si had brought down half a 
dozen rabbits, and they told about the big bear 
that had been laid low. 

“That’s prime news,” said Josiah Socket. 
“The bear, along with the provisions in the packs, 
will give us all we want to eat until spring 
comes.” 

They had to rest twice before the cabins were 
reached, for the horses were all but exhausted. 
They kept their eyes wide open for the appearance 
of the enemy, but nothing came to alarm them. 


1 86 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Those redskins have evidently learnt their les- 
son,” said Josiah Socket, “and if so, I am glad of 
it.” 

When they were still at a distance the Socket 
boys came running to greet their father and Mrs. 
Socket was at the doorway to welcome her hus- 
band. When the woman heard about the brush 
with the Indians she almost fainted. 

“It’s a wonder you weren’t both killed !” she de- 
clared. “Josiah, you must be very careful how 
you venture out after this.” 

“I’m a-goin’ to be careful,” answered the hus- 
band. 

“And you must be careful too, Mark.” 

“I’ll keep my eyes wide open,” said the boy. 

The next day there was something of a celebra- 
tion. A big haunch of venison was roasted, some 
turnips cooked and beans baked, and Mrs. Socket 
made some biscuits and some “real downright 
coffee,” as Maybe Dixon named it. They feasted 
for over an hour, and never did a meal taste bet- 
ter to any of them. A good appetite and a touch 
of hunger are always the best sauce in the world 
for a square meal. 


CHAPTER XXII 


THE COMING OF SPRING 

Slowly the winter wore away to the three 
boys, each anxious for spring to arrive, that they 
might hunt for gold. There was a good deal of 
snow, and some biting cold weather, and then it 
began to moderate slowly but surely, until the ice 
in the river broke away and the snow disappeared 
from the valley as if by magic. 

“Hurrah! Spring at last!’’ cried Mark, one 
day when the sun came out extra strong. “I am 
not sorry for it.” 

“Sorry?” cried Bob. “Why, I could dance a 
jig for joy.” And he did a few steps in front of 
the cabin. 

The boys had already decided upon where to 
try their luck first — up the valley on the opposite 
side of the river, which soon began to flow 
swiftly, as the snow in the mountains melted. 

“If you don’t find anything in one place we can 
easily try another,” said Si. “We can go where 
we please, so long as we don’t work on some 
187 


1 88 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

staked-out claim.” They had already learned that 
to work on another person’s claim was considered 
a great crime in the gold country. 

Maybe Dixon was going to stick with them, 
“through thick or thin,” as he expressed it. He 
had taken a strong liking to all three youths and 
could not think of separating from them. 

The Sockets were going further down the val- 
ley, — to the Feather River, — and soon they parted 
from their friends. 

“I shan’t forget what I owe you,” said Mark 
to Josiah Socket. 

“Take your own time about paying,” answered 
the man. And then he and his family moved off, 
pack and baggage, and the others did not see them 
again for some time. 

It was an important day when the three boys 
and Maybe Dixon set out to make their first hunt 
for gold. The lads were wild with excitement. 
One carried a pick, another a shovel, and Si had 
the washing pan, — an article shaped somewhat 
like a broad coal hod, with little tin ridges on the 
front slope. This was one sort of washing pan, 
and there were numerous others. 

An hour of stiff walking brought them to a spot 
Maybe Dixon thought inviting, and they set to 
work, close to the stream, to dig up the sand and 
dirt and proceed to the washing. 


THE COMING OF SPRING 189 

‘Til wash the first panful,” said the man, “and 
then you can all try your hands at it. You’ve got 
to learn, and there ain’t no time so good as the 
present.” 

“If the first panful only pans out good,” whis- 
pered Si, hopefully. 

All stood around and watched the process of 
washing with keen interest. The loose dirt came 
away quickly and then more water was put in, 
and Maybe Dixon showed how to get rid of the 
fine sand and small stones. At last the pan was 
almost empty. 

“Any gold?” asked Bob, in a voice he tried his 
best to steady. 

Maybe Dixon looked at the pan bottom with 
great care. 

“Not a smell,” he declared. 

“Oh !” came from the three boys, and each fol- 
lowed with a long sigh. 

“Ain’t no use to git discouraged yet,” said the 
man, hopefully. “We may go days before we 
strike paying dirt.” 

“I thought gold was everywhere,” said Si. 

They continued to dig and wash for an hour, 
each trying the pan. But nothing in the way of 
gold was brought to light. Then they moved to 
another locality and went through the whole 
process over again. 


190 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“No gold/’ murmured Mark, and his face 
showed his disappointment. 

“I thought sure we’d strike something,” said 
Bob. 

“Perhaps after all we ought to have followed 
Mr. Socket down the valley,” put in Si. “He said 
this district didn’t look like gold to him.” 

“You can’t tell from general appearances, not 
unless you’re an expert,” said Maybe Dixon. 
“Maybe by to-morrow we’ll be having better 
luck.” 

They continued to dig and to wash, trying half 
a dozen different places, up and down the stream. 
But it was of no use, and at sundown they re- 
turned to their cabin much downcast. 

“And doesn't my back ache!” declared Mark, 
bracing up with a grimace. 

“It will ache, until you get used to digging,” 
said Si, who was not bothered that way. Bob 
felt a little stiff, but Mark suffered the most by 
far. 

The next morning they went out again, this 
time taking to a small creek that flowed into the 
river. They followed the creek for nearly half 
a mile, when they came to something of a hollow, 
surrounded by rocks and filled with sand. 

“That sand ought to have something in it,” de- 
clared Maybe Dixon. “But if we want it, we’ll 


THE COMING OF SPRING 


19 1 


have to wade in and git it, — and it’s putty cold 
as yet.” 

“I’ll go in,” said Mark. “I always took cold 
baths when I was at home, and I shan’t mind it 
so very much.” 

He took off his shoes and stockings, rolled up 
his trousers, and waded in. The sand was loose 
and he easily scooped up a panful, which he 
handed to Bob, who proceeded to the washing. 
Soon they got to the bottom, where only a little 
coarse sand remained, mixed with specks of a dull 
coppery color. 

“There’s your gold !” cried Maybe Dixon. 
“Told you it would be there !” 

“Is that really gold?” asked Si, doubtfully. 

“To be sure it is, my boy.” 

“I thought gold was always shiny, like a gold 
ring or a watch.” 

“Not always. Some of it has to be cleaned.” 

“How much is there — I mean what is it 
worth ?” questioned Bob. 

“They say it is worth sixteen dollars an ounce,” 
answered Mark. “I should think there was at 
least an eighth of an ounce there.” 

“Two dollars’ worth of gold, just about,” said 
Maybe Dixon, calculating with his eyes. 

“It don’t look it,” said Si, almost in a whisper. 
“Why, that’s fifty cents each all around!” And 


i 9 2 pioneer boys of the gold fields 

he gazed at the others with a grin of pleasure. 
“I’d have to work a whole day on the farm for 
that !” he added. 

“Some panfuls may not be so good and some 
may be better,” said Maybe Dixon. “In hunting 
for gold you’ve got to take what comes, every 
time.” 

They soon had another panful to wash and then 
half a dozen more. Mark did not remain in the 
water excepting when he drew up the sand and 
dirt. Yet it was cold labor, as he soon realized. 

“This will be all right two months from 
now,” he said. “But just now it is a little too 
cold.” 

“Thought you’d feel it,” was Maybe Dixon’s 
comment. “Don’t you git cramps in your feet, 
or you’ll have rheumatism or some other pesky 
thing to make you miserable.” 

They drew up, all told, about half an ounce of 
gold and then the bottom of the hollow was prac- 
tically exhausted. Then they went further up 
the creek and tried a smaller hollow, which they 
scooped out by standing on some overhanging 
rocks. Here the first panful gave them all of a 
quarter of an ounce of gold. 

“Four dollars’ worth!” exclaimed Si. “How 
is that for ten minutes’ work! Hurrah! Our 
fortunes are made!” 


THE COMING OF SPRING 


193 


“Not quite, Si,” answered Mark. “But I am 
mighty glad we’ve struck something.” 

They kept at the creek all of that day and for 
the balance of the week. On Saturday night they 
got the gold that had been found together and 
weighed it in a tiny scales Maybe Dixon had 
brought along. 

“Two ounces and a half,” said the man. 

“At sixteen dollars an ounce that means just 
forty dollars,” said Bob, quickly. 

“Ten dollars each,” came from Si. “That ain’t 
so terrible bad for four days’ work.” 

“And not so good either,” put in Mark, quickly. 
“Boys, we have got to do better, or I shall be dis- 
appointed.” 

“I don’t know as all gold is worth sixteen dol- 
lars an ounce,” said Maybe Dixon. “We may 
have to sell it for fourteen dollars, or even as low 
as twelve dollars.” 

“We’ll get the best price we can.” 

“Now how are we to divide?” said Bob, look- 
ing at Maybe Dixon. “We boys agreed long ago 
to share and share alike.” 

“I am willing to go in the same way, so long as 
all keep on working,” said Maybe Dixon. “We 
can divide up whatever we find into four parts 
instead of three.” 

All of the boys were satisfied and said so, and 


i 94 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

then they shook hands with their new partner. 
It was agreed that for the present Bob and Mark 
should work together as one “team” and Si and 
Maybe Dixon as another. All agreed to go down 
the stream a little further and try another creek 
Mark had discovered. 

The following week found them harder at work 
than ever. Mark’s back often ached from the 
labor, but he did not complain. His thoughts, 
and the thoughts of all, were centered on finding 
gold. 

The second week’s work netted them fifty dol- 
lars and the third week brought in nearly a hun- 
dred. All of the gold was placed in a chamois 
bag, secreted in a chink of the cabin wall, behind 
a slab of wood. 

During the third week several other gold 
seekers drifted into that locality and three claims 
were staked out. But our friends staked no 
claim, content to wander around until they struck 
“something worth while,” as Mark put it. 

The Indians had not shown themselves again, 
but from one miner who came up the creek they 
learned that a shack two miles away had been 
plundered by the red men and the owner half 
killed. A posse had gotten after the Indians and 
one had been badly wounded. The rest of the 
band had fled to parts unknown. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


NUGGETS OF VALUE 

“Well, where shall we try our luck next?” 

It was Mark who asked that question. He was 
resting in front of the cabin mending a hole in 
his shirt. The hard work of the past six weeks 
had told on his clothing and he often had to sit 
down and do some mending. 

The young gold hunters had been fairly success- 
ful but not nearly as much so as they wished. 
The chamois bag held about four hundred dol- 
lars’ worth of dust, which meant a hundred dol- 
lars each for the partners. 

“Good enough wages,” said Bob. “But I came 
out here to win my fortune.” 

“And so did I,” answered Mark, and then asked 
the question, “Well, where shall we try our luck 
next?” 

“This district seems about used up,” said Si. 
“I move we go to some other place.” 

“A man told me yesterday things looked good 
over to a place called Three Cross Gulch,” said 
195 


i 9 6 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

Maybe Dixon. “If you want to try it over there, 
say the word, and I’ll be with ye.” 

“How far is that from here?” questioned Mark. 

“He said about twenty miles.” 

“Then we will have to give up the cabin.” 

“That is so, too, but we didn’t expect to stay 
here all the time, anyway.” 

“Of course we didn’t.” 

“Let us go to Three Cross Gulch to-morrow !” 
cried Si, impetuously. He was getting the gold 
fever good and strong, now that he saw gold was 
really to be had. 

“Three Cross Gulch it is!” exclaimed Bob; and 
so it was settled. 

The rest had done Darling good and he spent 
the whole day in wandering around the river bank, 
picking up odds and ends to eat. He was per- 
fectly willing to carry the load they put on him the 
next morning, and by ten o’clock they bid fare- 
well to their old camping spot and struck out for 
the new diggings Maybe Dixon had mentioned. 

The way was far from an easy one, and they 
had their own troubles in getting into the gulch, 
which had suddenly become the scene of great 
activity. Miners were pouring in from every- 
where, and tents were springing up “like mush- 
rooms,” as Bob expressed it. 

“We’ll have to see if we can’t get a tent,” said 


NUGGETS OF VALUE 


1 97 


Mark, and for that purpose visited a spot where a 
jolly German was selling all manner of supplies 
which he had brought to the place from San Fran- 
cisco on the backs of eight horses. 

“Yah ! I can sell you von dent,” said the Ger- 
man. “I got dree left,” and he brought them out. 

Two were new and the third had seen slight 
service. They thought this latter might answer 
their purpose, and asked the man what he wanted 
for it. 

“I sold you dot dent for four ounces,” said the 
German. 

“Four ounces !” cried Mark. 

“Why, that’s about sixty-four dollars!” gasped 
Si. “The tent didn’t cost more than ten or 
twelve !” 

“Yah, but he cost a lot to git him here,” said 
the man who sold supplies. 

“You won’t take less?” asked Bob. 

“ Nein , I cannot do dot.” 

“I reckon it’s a case of take it or leave it,” said 
Maybe Dixon. “We had better take him up, for 
I don’t see any other chance to get canvas.” 

“All right, but it breaks my heart to give up 
four ounces of gold for it,” groaned Si. 

They took the tent, and then purchased some 
other supplies which they desired. That night 
they stretched the canvas over some bushes and 


i 9 8 PIONEER BOVS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

slept under it. The next day they cut poles and 
pitched the tent in proper shape, cutting a trench 
around it, so that the rain might run off and keep 
the ground inside dry. They covered the floor- 
ing with bark, and made several couches of pine 
boughs. 

The next week found them working hard in 
two claims they had staked out. Not much gold 
in the dust was found, but quite some of the 
precious metal in grains which occasionally 
reached to the size of nuggets. 

“Nuggets are what I want,” cried Bob. “A 
good big nugget beats dust all to pieces !” 

“Dust is all right, if you can only git enough of 
it,” answered Maybe Dixon. 

At the end of the second week at Three Cross 
Gulch they calculated that they had brought in 
over three hundred dollars’ worth of dust and 
small nuggets. The largest of the nuggets was 
found by Si and was thought to be worth fifty to 
sixty dollars. It made the former farm lad dance 
a jig for joy. 

“I’ve got to send news of that to hum,” he said. 
“Gosh, but this beats farmin’ all to bits, don’t 
it?” 

“Like to get a market basket full of ’em, eh, 
Si ?” said Mark, dryly. 

“Wouldn’t you?” 


NUGGETS OF VALUE 


199 


“You bet!” laughed Mark, dropping into the 
common expression of the day. 

The weather was growing steadily warmer, and 
soon the buds began to come out and the grass 
took on its coat of green. Sleeping in the tent 
was quite comfortable, and the boys declared it 
would have been stuffy to have remained in a 
cabin. 

Mark was getting hardened to the labor and it 
was but seldom that his back ached as it had when 
he had first taken hold. They soon gave up one 
claim as next to worthless and all four of the 
partners labored along a small brook flowing into 
the gulch, which was dry a good part of the time, 
the water soaking away in the sandy bottom. 

It was late on Friday afternoon that Mark and 
Bob were digging around the bottom of a big 
bowlder which was imbedded in the dark sand. 
They had uncovered some fair-sized grains of 
gold and were trying to reach the bottom of the 
“sand pocket,” as they called it. 

“Not a great deal of gold here,” remarked Bob. 
“But I guess it is worth working for.” 

“We are making more than fair wages, 
Bob.” 

“Oh, I know that, Mark. But when a fellow 
gets used to making big money he hates to drop 
back.” 


200 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“That is so too. But let us go down to the 
bottom here, anyway.” 

“That is what I calculate to do. The most gold 
will lie next to the rock under the sand.” 

They continued to labor. It was hard work 
and both were in a heavy perspiration. But at 
last they got down to the bottom rock and Mark 
brought out what was left of the sand on his 
shovel. 

“Look!” 

“Look!” 

Both boys gave the cry and each stooped to 
pick up a dull yellowish lump. Mark secured it 
and carried it to where the light could fall upon it. 

“A nugget of gold !” 

“Yes, and a good-sized one too !” 

“What do you suppose it is worth?” 

“According to the worth of the one Si found 
this must count up to four or five hundred 
dollars !” 

“Great mackerel, Mark! Now we are doing 
something, aren’t we?” 

“Let us see if there are any more.” 

In a fever of excitement the two boys began to 
bring away what was left of the sand. They 
found six other nuggets, but all much smaller. 
Then they went over the sand with care, getting 
out the dust and small grains. 


NUGGETS OF VALUE 


201 


“This is the best find yet,” declared Mark. 
“We’ve got at least six hundred dollars’ worth of 
nuggets and dust here !” 

“That’s the kind of a find to make !” 

In high delight they went to the tent and a few 
minutes later Si and Maybe Dixon came in. Both 
were smiling. 

“We got about two hundred dollars’ worth of 
nuggets,” said Si, in a whisper, so that nobody in 
the other tents close at hand might hear. 

“And look what we got,” said Mark, showing 
the big nugget. 

“And these too,” added Bob, bringing forth 
the balance of the find. 

“Well, just to look at that!” cried Maybe 
Dixon. “Say, we are striking it lucky, we are !” 

Sitting down by candlelight, with the flaps of 
the tent carefully closed from curious eyes, they 
brought out their scales and calculated the worth 
of the find. As Maybe Dixon figured it, they had 
between seven hundred and fifty and eight hun- 
dred dollars’ worth of gold. 

“Think of that for one day’s work!” cried Si. 
“Why, it is more than a man can earn in a year 
on a farm !” 

“Hush, Si ! not so loud,” said Mark, warningly. 
“Somebody may hear you.” 

“That’s so, I forgot,” answered the former 


202 


PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


farm lad. ‘Til be more careful after this,” he 
added, in a whisper. 

“We have certainly done very well,” said 
Maybe Dixon. “Maybe to-morrow we’ll do still 
better.” 

“We’re getting nuggets, that’s certain,” said 
Mark. “At this rate it won’t take us long to get 
a fortune together.” 

“Oh, we can’t expect such luck to last,” said 
Bob. 

“Why not, I’d like to know?” demanded Si. 
“Now we have struck our gait, let us keep it up.” 

“I am willing to keep it up — if I can,” laughed 
the former sailor boy. “Nothing would suit me 
better.” 

With great care they put the nuggets away in 
a gold bag. Maybe Dixon had been carrying it 
around with him, but now it was depided to hide 
the bag. 

“I know a place,” said Si, and mentioned a hol- 
low tree just back of the tent. “Nobody would 
look for it there.” 

He had just spoken when from outside of the 
tent there came a sudden strong sneeze. 

“Hullo! somebody is out there!” cried Maybe 
Dixon. 

“He must have heard what I said!” gasped Si. 

Mark sprang for the flap of the tent and threw 



“ A NUGGET OF GOLD !” CRIED MARK. — P. 200. 

Pioneer Boys of the Gold Fields 































. 






































































































































NUGGETS OF VALUE 


203 


it open. Outside all was dark, and a puff of wind 
blew out their candle. 

“I see a man !” cried Bob, pointing to a dim 
figure, hurrying toward some brush a hundred 
feet away. “Hi ! stop !” he yelled. But the man 
kept on and soon disappeared in the gloom of the 
night. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


THE RESULTS OF A CAVE-IN 

“That proves one thing/' said Mark, after the 
brief excitement was at an end. “Some folks in 
this camp are pretty nosy." 

“Maybe it will prove more’n that," returned 
Maybe Dixon. 

“You think there are thieves around?" asked 
Bob, quickly. 

“Would it be something to wonder at, lad — 
with so much gold in the hands of the miners? 
Some men would rather steal than work." 

“That’s a fact," said Si. “And we’ll have to 
be careful of what we have." 

“I’d like to know who that man was," ob- 
served Mark. “Did you get any kind of a look 
at him at all, Bob? You’ve got the best eyes in 
this crowd." 

“He looked to be rather tall. I didn’t see his 
face." 

“Then you couldn’t place him?" 

“No." 


204 


THE RESULTS OF A CAVE-IN 


205 


They returned to the tent and the candle was 
again lit. By its feeble rays they put the gold in 
the bag and placed the bag in a tin box which had 
contained spices. 

“I don’t think we’d better use the hollow tree,” 
said Si. “That feller, whoever he was, must 
have heard me mention it.” 

They knew not what to do with their gold, but 
at last dug a hole at the back of the tent and placed 
it, tin box and all, in that, covering it with dirt, a 
flat stone, and some pine boughs. 

“It will take an hour’s digging to get it out,” 
said Maybe Dixon. “A thief would hardly dare 
to tackle the job, with so many around who 
know us.” 

“I’ve got an idea,” said Bob. “Let us put a 
bogus bag in the hollow tree and see if that rascal 
comes for it.” 

This was considered a good scheme and was 
acted upon the next morning, a bag of sand being 
carefully tied up and sealed. It was placed in 
the hollow tree and some dead leaves strewn over 
it. 

For the next few days the boys and their older 
partner worked as never before. They brought 
to light eight other small nuggets and some grains 
and dust, worth, all told, not less than three hun- 
dred dollars. With such good results, they did 


206 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


not mind the back-breaking labor, and if they 
were so stiff in the morning that they scarcely 
cared to move, nobody complained. They were 
working deep down in the sand and nobody was 
near them. 

“How is it?” asked one old miner, coming up 
to Bob one day. 

“Fair,” answered the youth, as carelessly as he 
could. 

“Not bringing out anything big, eh?” 

“Not very big.” 

“I don’t think this gulch is worth shucks. I 
am going elsewhere,” and the old miner slouched 
off with his pick, shovel, and pan over his 
shoulder. 

“That’s where he is missing it,” whispered Si. 
“But we can’t tell him the truth — he’d come down 
on us and so would a hundred others, in no time. 
We want to keep as much of this gulch to our- 
selves as we can. We’ve got too many neighbors 
already.” 

“Si, you’re gittin’ to be a wise boy,” remarked 
Maybe Dixon, with an approving nod of his head. 
“When you spot a good thing, be sure an’ keep it 
to yourself, is my motto.” 

That evening Bob looked into the hollow tree 
and then burst into the tent in excitement. 

“It’s gone!” 


THE RESULTS OF A CAVE-IN 


207 


“What?” asked Si, who was frying some fish 
Mark had brought in. 

“The bag we put in the hollow tree.” 

“You don’t say so!” exclaimed Maybe Dixon. 
“Then that man was a thief after all.” 

“We can be thankful he ’had to sneeze,” re- 
marked Mark. “That was worth our whole 
capital.” 

“I’d give ten dollars to know who it was,” said 
Bob. 

“I go in for warning the rest of the miners 
around here,” declared Si. “If there is a thief 
around all the honest men ought to know it.” 

This was considered good reasoning, and after 
supper Si and Mark strolled around to the various 
tents dotting the gulch and told of what had oc- 
curred. 

“Well ! well ! so it’s got that far, sonny,” cried 
one brawny miner. “I will be on my guard after 
this. If anybody comes near my tent he’ll get a 
dose of cold lead that won’t agree with his diges- 
tion.” And he tapped his big pistol significantly. 
All of the miners were thankful for being warned, 
and each promised to be on guard. 

“Of course the would-be thief may be among 
those we warned,” said Mark, on returning to his 
own tent. “But if so, he’ll realize that we will 
stand for no more such treachery.” 


2oS PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

Several days passed, including Sunday, which 
was spent in resting up and in looking over their 
clothing. The boys also took a bath, in a pool of 
spring water back of the camp, which was both 
healthful and refreshing. 

Monday afternoon found Mark and Bob work- 
ing at the bottom of a deep sand hole near the end 
of the gulch. Si and Maybe Dixon were not far 
away. Each of the party had found some small 
nuggets, but nothing of great value. 

“We must be careful here,” said Mark, as he 
got to the bottom of the hole. “This sand is none 
too firm.” 

“Oh, I reckon it will hold,” cried Bob, who was 
scraping away industriously with his- shovel. 
“But we can’t go much further, to my way of 
thinking. We have about reached bed rock.” 

“That is so. And I think — Oh ! help !” 

Mark got no further, for at that instant the 
sand began to crumble down on one side of the 
hole. He made a wild spring for the other side 
and caught hold of a rope which they had been 
using for hoisting sand that they wanted to wash. 
As he went up, the whole hole caved in, burying 
him up to his knees. Bob was completely covered 
and could do absolutely nothing to save himself. 

Mark continued to call for aid, and soon Si and 
Maybe Dixon came running to the spot. 


THE RESULTS OF A CAVE-IN 


209 


“Hullo, Mark is caught in the sand hole !” cried 
the former farm boy. 

“Save me, and save Bob!” gasped Mark, who 
was trying his best to get away from the sand 
which held him. 

“Where is Bob?” 

“At the bottom of the hole.” 

“You don’t say!” exclaimed Maybe Dixon. 
“Boys, we’ve got to dig him out an’ do it quick, 
or maybe he’ll be smothered !” 

It was an easy task to drag Mark from the top 
of the opening, and this done they set to work to 
dig the sand from the hole. Mark and Maybe 
Dixon worked with their hands until Si brought 
up some shovels. In the meantime they called to 
two other miners who were not far away. 

“A cave-in, eh?” said one of the miners, run- 
ning up. 

“Worse,” said Mark. “Bob Billings is at the 
bottom of the hole.” 

“Gee shoo ! Ye don’t tell me !” cried the miner. 
“We must git him out.” 

“Thet’s the talk, Jim,” said his partner, and 
they pitched in with a will, and soon all on top of 
the ground were making the sand fly in all direc- 
tions. 

It was no easy matter to keep the sand from 
caving in again and one of the miners ran off and 


210 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

soon brought back several short boards, with 
which one side of the hole was shored up. Then, 
a few seconds later, Mark uttered a cry as he un- 
covered the top of the handle of a pick. 

“Bob had hold of that when the cave-in came,” 

“Maybe he has hold of it still,” suggested 
Maybe Dixon. 

Mark took hold of the pick handle and pulled 
upon it. 

“Bob ! Bob !” he called out loudly. 

“Here !” came faintly through the hole made by 
the moving of the pick handle. 

“Hold fast, can you?” 

“I’ll try.” 

As many as could get at the handle pulled with 
might and main, and soon the handle came up, 
and the sand with it, forming a round mound. 
Then from the middle of the mound came Bob, 
white, limp, and all but exhausted. 

“Bob, are you hurt?” asked Mark, anxiously, 
as he assisted his chum to firmer ground. 

“I — I don’t know,” was the answer, and then 
poor Bob sank in a heap, too weak to stand. 
They made him as comfortable as they could and 
presently he got back his breath and sat up. 

“I — I guess I am all right,” he gasped. “But 
say, I don’t want to be buried alive again !” 

“Shouldn’t think you would want to,” said Si. 


THE RESULTS OF A CAVE-IN 


2 I I 


“I wouldn’t want to have it happen to me for a 
million dollars !” 

“I thought I’d never be dug out.” 

“We went to work as fast as we could.” 

“I know it, and I am very thankful,” said Bob, 
and thanked the miners from outside who had 
come to his aid. Then he limped to the tent, 
leaning on Si’s arm, and Mark came limping be- 
hind the pair. 

‘That is one of the perils of mining,” said May- 
be Dixon. “You ought never to go into a deep 
hole unless you have the sides properly shored 
up.” 

“I’ll remember that,” said Bob. 

“And so will I,” added Mark. 

Neither of the boys suffered much from the 
cave-in. But it taught them a valuable lesson, 
and they took care never to be caught again in 
that manner. 


CHAPTER XXV 


THE MAN FROM PHILADELPHIA 

Spring passed and soon came summer, with its 
heat and its flies, mosquitoes, ants, and other in- 
sects. But the boys and Maybe Dixon were doing 
well and paid small attention to the pests that 
came to bother them. 

They had moved from Three Cross Gulch to 
another spot fifty miles away called White Rock 
Gulch. Here they had located two claims, and 
both were panning out very well. At White Rock 
Gulch they did only surface mining, following up 
the gulch and its various tributaries for miles. 
They took out a good deal of coarse gold, and 
once Maybe Dixon got out a nugget worth at least 
a hundred and fifty dollars. 

All told, they calculated that they had about 
three thousand dollars’ worth of gold on hand. 
They might have had several hundred dollars’ 
worth more but living was very high, and they 
did not want to go without at least some good 
things, although Si, who was used to scant farm 


212 


THE MAN FROM PHILADELPHIA 


213 


fare, sometimes shook his head when the others 
paid a dollar a pound for sugar, three dollars for 
coffee, and two dollars per pound for steak that 
was a long way from being porterhouse in quality. 
Fortunately, however, high prices did not last and 
by August they could get the articles mentioned 
for a third of the figures given. 

One day Mark took the mule and rode off to a 
fair-sized settlement known as Bender’s because 
the chief storekeeper was Captain Samuel Bender. 
This place was twelve miles from where the camp 
of our friends was located, and it took the youth 
and the animal three hours to cover the distance 
over the uneven hilly trail. 

Mark spent two hours in doing some trading 
and in seeing the sights. At one spot was an 
amusement hall, and he stopped for a few minutes 
to listen to some music on a banjo and watch a 
colored man dance a breakdown. Near at hand 
was an open bar at which several men were 
drinking. 

As was natural, the men at the bar presently 
caught the youth’s eye and he looked them over, 
wondering if he had seen any of them before. 
One looked strangely familiar and Mark cudgeled 
his brain to place the individual. 

“I know I’ve seen him somewhere,” thought the 
boy. “The question is where? Did I meet him 


214 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

on the trail, or elsewhere? I am sure he isn’t a 
miner.” 

Presently the man turned away from the bar, 
and walked past Mark. He gave the youth a 
sharp look, and then both started. 

“Hullo!” cried Mark, involuntarily. 

“Hullo yourself,” said the man, gruffly. 
“Where — er — where have I met you before?” 

“In Philadelphia,” answered Mark, quickly. 

“Is that so?” 

“Yes, you got into my step-father’s office by 
mistake one day.” 

“Did I? I don’t remember it,” said the man, 
coldly. He had fully recovered his self-pos- 
session. 

“Yes, I met you on the stairs. I was going 
up and you were coming down.” 

“Is that so? It has slipped my mind entirely.” 
The man pretended to yawn. “What’s your 
name?” 

“Mark Radley. My step-father’s name is 
Jadell Powers.” 

“I don’t know him.” 

“What is your name?” 

“Morgan Fitzsimmons.” 

“You are from Philadelphia, aren’t you?” 

“I have been there a few times,” answered 
Morgan Fitzsimmons, and pretended to yawn 


THE MAN FROM PHILADELPHIA 


2*5 


again. “I am a great traveler. Just now I am 
doing the gold fields.” 

'Then you are not going to try your luck at 
mining?” 

"Hardly.” The man gave a short laugh. "I 
am not used to such hard work. Are you at it?” 

"Yes.” 

"Here?” 

"No, over to White Rock Gulch.” 

"Alone or with your step-father?” 

"I am with three friends.” 

"Then your step-father didn’t come out?” 

"Not that I know of. I haven’t heard from 
him for some time.” 

"I’ll wager a dollar you ran away from home,” 
said Morgan Fitzsimmons, with a smile that Mark 
did not admire — it was so full of sarcastic cun- 
ning. 

"Maybe you know that 1 did run away,” said 
the bov, boldly. 

"Me! Why — er — not at all,” stammered the 
man. "What makes you think that?” he added 
and gave Mark a sharp look, as if to read his 
very thoughts. 

“Oh, it doesn’t matter,” said Mark. "Are you 
stopping here ?” 

"Yes, fora few days.” 

"And after that ?” 


2 16 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“I don’t know where I will go. But see here, 
boy ” 

“I may see you again,” said Mark, and walked 
away, before Morgan Fitzsimmons could ask him 
any more questions. 

Mark’s heart was beating rapidly. He recog- 
nized the man fully as the individual who had 
come away from his step-father’s office on that 
fateful day when the safe had been robbed of three 
hundred dollars. 

“He looks just slick enough to be the robber,” 
thought Mark. “But how am I going to prove it 
out here and at this time?” 

He thought the matter over carefully, and some 
time later tied his mule to a tree and went again 
in search of Morgan Fitzsimmons. He found 
that individual in another drinking place, playing 
cards with two innocent-looking miners. 

“Another five dollars gone,” he heard one of 
the miners say. “I am in hard luck to-day.” 

“So am I,” said the other miner. “Don’t think 
I am going to play any more,” he added, as he 
arose from the bench on which he was sitting. 

“Give you a chance to win your money back if 
you say so,” said Morgan Fitzsimmons, care- 
lessly. 

“Another time,” said the miner, and then he 
moved away, followed by his companion. Mor- 


THE MAN FROM PHILADELPHIA 


217 

gan Fitzsimmons took the money lying on the 
table and put it in his pocket. 

“Have something with me,” he said, to the man 
who was keeping the bar. 

“I will and I’ll have more,” said the other in- 
dividual, coolly. 

“How much more?” 

“I get twenty-five per cent, of a straight 
game.” 

“That’s a pretty steep rake-off.” 

“And I get fifty per cent, of a crooked game/'* 
said the man who ran the establishment. 

“What do you mean by that ?” 

“I mean, Mr. Fitzsimmons, that I want half of 
what you got out of Dinky Blade and Jack 
Wilson.” 

“Hum!” Morgan Fitzsimmons was taken 
somewhat aback. “Then — er — you mean to 
say ” 

“Better say nothing, my dear friend. I under- 
stand you and you’ll understand me, sooner or 
later. You won forty dollars. Hand over 
twenty and call for what you please.” 

Morgan Fitzsimmons glared at the keeper of 
the place and the other man eyed him coolly. 
Then the gambler and swindler — for Fitzsimmons 
was nothing less — passed over four five-dollar 
bills, after which the keeper of the resort treated 


218 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

him to some liquor. Then the pair became quite 
confidential. 

Mark had slipped around to a side window and 
was taking in the scene with keen interest. He 
saw what it all meant. Morgan Fitzsimmons had 
played cards with the miners and swindled them 
out of forty dollars. The keeper of the resort 
was willing to wink at the transaction and let it 
pass for one-half of the ill-gotten gains. Now 
Fitzsimmons was evidently arranging to do more 
“business” in the future, on the same basis. 

“He is a rascal — fully as bad as Sag Ruff,” 
thought Mark. “And that being so, it is more 
than likely he stole that three hundred dollars 
from the office safe. I wish I could corner him in 
some way and bring him to justice. That would 
clear my name. I suppose Mr. Powers still thinks 
I am guilty.” 

The talk between the keeper of the resort and 
Morgan Fitzsimmons went on for some time and 
then the gambler drew back. 

“Fll be on hand every night this week,” said 
he. “We’ll make a big thing of this, trust me for 
it.” 

“All right, Mr. Fitzsimmons. But mind, not 
a word to anybody of it.” 

“Trust me,” and then Fitzsimmons walked 
away. Mark watched him go down the rude 


THE MAN FROM PHILADELPHIA 


219 


street until he came to a row of shanties which 
were used for boarding places. He passed into 
one of them and to a room he had evidently rented 
for the time being. 

“Here is where he is hanging out,” Mark told 
himself. “I’ll remember that.” 

The boy went back to where he had left his 
mule and soon found shelter for himself and the 
animal. Early in the morning he went back to 
White Rock Gulch with his stock of provisions. 

Mark had long since acquainted all of his com- 
panions with his past history and each believed 
thoroughly in his innocence. All listened with 
interest to the story he had to tell about Morgan 
Fitzsimmons. 

“I want to know what you would do if you 
were in my place,” said he, after he had finished. 
“I am satisfied in my own mind that he is the ras- 
cal who robbed my step-father.” 

“But what proof have you got, Mark?” asked 
Maybe Dixon. “You can’t have a man arrested 
unless you have proof against him.” 

“I haven’t any proof excepting that I saw him 
coming down the stairs.” 

“Did anybody else see him ?” asked Bob. 

“I do not know, but I think not.” 

“Then I don’t see what you can do,” went on 
Maybe Dixon. “In a court of law his word is 


220 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

as good as yours, commonly speaking, although 
the fact that he is a gambler may go against him.” 

“And a swindler — if you can prove that,” put 
in Si. 

They talked the matter over whenever they got 
the chance that day, but reached no conclusion of 
value. Then Mark cooled down a little, and re- 
solved to let the matter rest for a while. 

“But I’ll tell you what I am going to do,” he 
said, suddenly. “I am going to write to my step- 
father and let him know where I am and how I am 
getting along, and I’ll tell him all I know about 
this Morgan Fitzsimmons. Then if he wants to 
do anything, let him go ahead, and I’ll help him 
all I can.” 

“Maybe he will get after you for running 
away,” said Maybe Dixon. 

“I am not afraid of him any more,” answered 
Mark. “I think he will let me alone when he 
learns how well I am doing — especially if I prom- 
ise not to bother him about a settlement of my 
heritage.” 

The whole party was doing very well at White 
Rock Gulch. On the day that Mark went away 
Bob found several fair-sized nuggets, and when 
Mark went to work he came across a pocket con- 
taining several nuggets as big as peas. Then Si 
and Maybe Dixon capped the good fortune by 


THE MAN FROM PHILADELPHIA 


221 


finding twin nuggets, one fitting into the other, 
and both together worth not less than four hun- 
dred dollars. 

“Talk about getting rich !” cried the former 
farm boy. ‘‘Say, this beats hoeing corn all to 
pieces,” and he danced a jig for joy. 

“If only our good fortune keeps up,” said Bob, 
with his face on a broad grin. 

“Well, it seems to be keeping up,” said Mark. 
“At this rate we’ll have quite a pile laid by when 
winter comes.” 

“Don’t mention winter yet!” exclaimed Si. “I 
don’t want to think of giving up digging gold. 
It’s too much fun !” 


CHAPTER XXVI 


mark's sickness 

A few days later Mark was working hard at 
the bottom of a deep hole, with the hot sun blaz- 
ing down upon him when he suddenly felt queer 
in his head. He staggered and leaned up against 
the dirt. 

“What’s the matter, Mark?” questioned Si, 
who was working with him at the time. 

“I — I don’t feel right — my — my head is swim- 
ming around,” gasped Mark. 

He had been affected by the strong sunshine, 
and Si called for help without delay. Bob came 
running up, and he and the former farm lad 
carried their sick chum away from the hole and up 
to the tent on the hillside. Then Maybe Dixon 
appeared. 

~“Soak his head in the coldest water you can 
find,” said the old miner, and Bob ran off with a 
pail to a spring coming from some rocks behind 
the camp. When the water was brought they 
saturated towel after towel and put it on Mark’s 


222 


MARK’S SICKNESS 


223 


head. They also fanned him and opened the 
tent front and back, that the breeze might blow 
through. 

“I am afraid he will be a sick boy for some 
time,” said Maybe Dixon. ‘‘Maybe it will take 
all summer for him to git over it.” 

“Oh, don’t say that!” cried Bob, deeply dis- 
tressed. The idea of any of the party having a 
serious spell of sickness had never before occurred 
to him. “Can’t we get a doctor somewhere?” 

“I heard there was a doctor over to the settle- 
ment,” said Si. “Jerry Bangs got some pills 
from him.” 

“Then let us go and get him,” answered 
Bob. “We’ve got plenty of money to pay him 
with.” 

Bob determined to go over to the settlement 
the very next day, leaving Si to look after Mark 
and Maybe Dixon to work at the claims and watch 
them, so that nobody might “jump” their belong- 
ings. The week before a valuable claim had been 
“jumped” by two strangers, and the matter was 
still in dispute and at times threatened to lead to 
bloodshed. 

Bob went on muleback, taking the trail Mark 
had followed. He rode along as fast as he could 
and arrived at the settlement about the middle of 
the afternoon. 


224 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Can you tell me where the doctor’s office is?” 
he asked, of the first man he met. 

“Sure I can,” was the answer. “See that shack 
yonder?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, the doctor lives in the row of houses 
back of it — the third mansion — name on the door- 
plate — an’ don’t stop to ring the bell.” 

“Thank you.” 

Bob rode on and soon came to the row of houses 
mentioned, miserable two-story affairs, built of 
the roughest kind of boards. In front of one 
hung a shingle painted white on which was the 
following, in red : 

Doctor Samuel Barrows 
Office Hours 

8 to 1 1 a. m. 2 to 8 P. M. 

The place did not look particularly inviting, but 
Bob did not hesitate. He tied the mule to a post, 
walked to the dwelling, and knocked on the door. 

“What’s wanted?” asked a negro who ap- 
peared. 

“I want to see the doctor.” 

“Front room upstairs,” and the negro disap- 
peared in the direction of the rear. 

Bob entered the narrow and dirty hallway and 


MARK’S SICKNESS 


225 


ascended the rickety stairs. There were two 
rooms in the front, on the door of one of which 
was the sign : Doctor’s Office — Walk In. 

Bob entered, closing the door after him. A 
voice from another apartment called out to him : 

“Who is there?” 

“I came to see the doctor.” 

“Oh, all right. Sit down, I’ll be with you in a 
few minutes. I am just mixing some medicine I 
can’t leave.” 

Bob sat down, on the side of the room next to a 
thin partition which divided that apartment from 
the other room at the front of the hallway. He 
could hear a murmur of voices in the next room 
and presently caught a few words. 

“I know we can do it, Fitzsimmons,” one man 
said. “And if we can, look what it means to us.” 

“Well, I am willing to take chances, Ruff,” was 
the answer. “But we must be sure of that plan 
to get away.” 

“That’s it,” said another voice. “I don’t want 
to run no risk of being caught, and ” 

“Don’t get scared before you are hurt, Soapy,” 
said one of the other men. “I’ll tell you how we 
can work this.” And then the men got closer 
together and what followed Bob was unable to 
catch. 

The young miner was astonished beyond 


226 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

measure. He was certain that two of the men in 
the next room were Sag Ruff and Soapy Gannon, 
his tool. The other man had been called Fitz- 
simmons. 

“He must be the gambler Mark told about,” 
said Bob to himself. “A fine trio they make! 
Every one of them ought to be in jail.” 

He tried his best to catch more of what was 
said, but a noise on the street made it next to im- 
possible. He heard one man speak of some gold 
and another of horses, and then mention was 
made of pistols and the new trail, and that was 
all, a jumble out of which he could make neither 
head nor tail. 

“They are surely up to no good and ought to 
be watched,” Bob told himself, and then left the 
vicinity of the partition as the doctor came in. 

Doctor Barrows was a man of middle age, tall, 
dark, and with a heavy beard and black eyes. He 
listened closely to what Bob had to say. 

“Affected by the sun without a doubt,” he said. 
“But he may have something else too. I ought 
to see him before I prescribe.” 

“Will you come over to the gulch?” 

“It will take two days of my time, and just now 
my time is rather valuable.” 

“I know it is, sir, but we are willing to pay 
what is right.” 


MARK'S SICKNESS 


227 


“I couldn’t undertake such a trip for less than 
a hundred dollars.” 

“Will you furnish the medicine?” 

“Certainly, I’ll take my medicine case with me 
on horseback. You came on horseback, didn’t 
you ?” 

“I came on my mule. He is just as good as a 
horse, for mountain climbing !” 

“I believe you. Want me to come at once, I 
presume.” 

“We can’t go till to-morrow very well. The 
trail isn’t safe in the dark.” 

“All right, we can start first thing in the morn- 
ing, then. I’ll go around and see my present 
patients to-night. I suppose you know my 
terms.” 

“The card on the wall says, Cash in Ad- 
vance.” 

“That’s it.” 

“I’ve got three ounces of dust with me. I’ll 
give you that now and the rest when we reach the 
gulch. Will that answer ?” 

“I presume so. You look like an honest young 
fellow. Who is the sick young man ?” 

“My chum — one of the best fellows in the 
world,” answered Bob. 

Just then another man came in, suffering from 
a cut on the arm, and the doctor had to attend to 


228 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


him. Bob went off, promising to be on hand at 
eight o’clock in the morning. 

The talk in the next room had ceased and the 
youth felt certain that the three men had left the 
building. While he was in the hallway he ap- 
proached the door and peeped through the key- 
hole. The room was empty of occupants. 

“Who rents that room next to the doctor’s 
office ?” he asked of the negro, whom he met again 
in the lower hallway. 

“Mr. Morgan Fitzsimmons,” was the answer. 

“Is there a man named Ruff in the building?” 

“No, sah.” 

“Or a man named Soapy Gannon ?” 

“No, sah.” 

“You don’t know them at all?” 

“No, sah,” and again the negro went on his 
way and Bob left the building. 

The boy had nothing to do that evening, and 
after getting a room for the night at the so-styled 
hotel, another flimsy two-story affair, and stabling 
for Darling, he obtained supper and then strolled 
around. 

“Bob !” came the cry, as he was suntering down 
the main street, and the next instant he felt his 
hand grasped by Josiah Socket, whose tanned 
face beamed with pleasure. 

“How do you do, Mr. Socket?” exclaimed the 


MARK’S SICKNESS 


229 


boy. “Glad to see you. Where have you been 
and how are you making* it?” 

“We are located over to Dishpan Falls,” said 
Josiah Socket, naming a locality which after- 
wards became known as Felville. “Doing putty 
good too.” 

“And how are all the folks?” 

“Very well. How are you folks doin’?” 

“Very well indeed, that is, so far as gold dig- 
ging is concerned. But Mark is sick.” And Bob 
gave some particulars. 

“I am sorry to hear that,” said Josiah Socket. 
“Hope he pulls through all right. I came here to 
buy supplies. They are awful high up our way.” 

“You’ll find ’em high here too.” 

“Yes, so I’ve learned. But we’ve got to eat, 
so I’ll make the best of it,” added Josiah Socket, 
with a sigh. 

He then related some of the particulars of what 
he and his family were doing, and he and Bob 
walked around the settlement, taking in the sights. 
Bob wanted to see more of Ruff, Gannon, and 
Fitzsimmons, but could not find them. 

“I steer clear o’ gambling,” said Josiah Socket. 
“What I find in the way of gold I’m going to 
keep — outside of what I have to pay for pro- 
visions.” 

“A man is a fool to gamble,” answered Bob. 


230 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“But more than a quarter of them do it — and they 
drink too.” 

He and Josiah Socket slept together that night 
and parted early in the morning. Then Bob went 
around for the doctor, and he and the medical 
man set off for the gulch. 


CHAPTER XXVII 


THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MAYBE DIXON 

When the doctor arrived at Mark’s side he 
found the youth in a fever. He at once set to 
work and administered some medicine, and re- 
mained at the sufferer’s side part of the night and 
an hour in the morning. 

“I feel quite sure he will get well,” he said, 
when he was ready to leave. “But should he 
have a turn for the worse you had better come 
for me again.” 

He left some pills and several bottles of medi- 
cine, and then, having received his pay, rode 
away. The boys and Maybe Dixon were sorry to 
see him depart. 

“I wish he was stopping in this camp,” said 
Si. “Then he could come around every day.” 

“Well, he has told us what to do and we’ll have 
to follow directions,” answered Bob. “Too bad! 
After the fine way we were getting along!” 

“I shan’t complain, if only he pulls through,” 
put in Maybe Dixon. 


231 


232 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“He is not going to die — we must .pull him 
through, somehow,” said Bob, decidedly. 

After that he scarcely left Mark’s side for a 
week. At night Si or Maybe Dixon would re- 
lieve him for a few hours, but it was Bob who ad- 
ministered the medicine and tried to make Mark 
as comfortable as possible. 

“I feel just as if Mark was my brother,” he said 
to the others. “I never was so attached to any- 
body before.” 

“Well, I feel attached to him myself,” said Si. 
“But then I’ve got my folks at home, while you 
have nobody. That makes a great deal of dif- 
ference.” 

At the end of the third day came the crisis, and 
for a few hours it looked as if poor Mark might 
die. He was totally unconscious and they had to 
force the medicine down his throat. But the doc- 
tor had told them to look for this, so they were 
not particularly surprised, only worried. 

But, the crisis passed, it was wonderful how 
quickly Mark seemed to rally. He gained 
strength every hour, and in a few days was able 
to sit up, take a little food, and do some talking. 

“I am awfully glad you are better,” said Bob, 
with a beaming face. “But you must go slow, 
Mark, or you’ll have a relapse. The doctor said 


THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DIXON 


233 


'‘Did I have a doctor?” 

“Yes.” 

“I don’t remember it.” 

“You were pretty far gone when he came. 
But now be still, and I’ll fix you some broth.” 

As soon as Mark began to mend Si and Maybe 
Dixon went to work regularly once more. They 
found no large nuggets, but a good bit of gold in 
coarse grains, which pleased them not a little. 

Maybe Dixon was of a wandering nature and 
one day announced that he was going up into the 
mountain back of the gulch, to do a bit of pros- 
pecting. He took with him a fair stock of pro- 
visions, a pick, and a washing pan, and said he 
would be back inside of three or four days. 

A man from Ohio had drifted into camp, with 
his wife and daughter. The girl was a likely miss 
of seventeen, and she readily agreed to play nurse 
to Mark now that he was on the road to recovery. 
She also agreed to cook the meals for all hands, 
for the sum of ten dollars per week — wages that 
were not considered extra high during those ex- 
citing times. She came early in the morning and 
went away after the supper dishes were put away, 
and proved a great help to the boys. 

“It seems more like home to have a woman 
around,” said Mark. “She is very nice to me, 
too.” 


234 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

‘‘First thing you know Mark will be falling in 
love,” said Si, with a grin. 

“You needn’t talk,” retorted Bob. “I see you 
making sheep’s eyes at Tillie already.” 

“Wasn’t at all,” cried Si, and went off to his 
work with a very red face. Tillie West was the 
sort of a farm girl that just suited him. And 
she liked Si, as everybody could readily see. 

Four days came and went and Maybe Dixon 
did not come back. In the meantime there was 
great excitement in a neighboring camp. Si 
brought in the news one night. 

“Been some thieves over to Hogan’s Flat,” he 
declared. “They cleaned out Hogan’s gold, and 
the gold belonging to a feller named Sanderfield, 
too.” 

“Did they get much?” questioned Bob, with 
interest. 

“Dust and nuggets worth about two thousand 
dollars. They might have got more, only Hogan 
took some nuggets worth three thousand dollars 
to Sacramento last week.” 

“Have they any idea who the thieves are?” 

“Not exactly, although they say several suspi- 
cious-looking fellows were hanging around the 
camp some days ago.” 

“I hope they catch them.” 

“So do I,” came from Mark, who was sitting 


THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DIXON 


235 


up on his couch. “Boys, is our gold safe?’’ he 
added, in a lower voice. 

“Yes,” answered Bob, and glanced at the spot 
where the precious hoard had been buried. 

“We must take some to Sacramento soon and 
ship it to a safe place,” said Si. 

“Where to?” 

“I’ll ship mine home.” 

“I haven’t any home,” answered Bob. “And 
Mark won’t want to send it to his step-father.” 

“You can send it to my father, if you want to. 
I know he will take good care of it,” went on Si. 

For the time being nothing was done towards 
removing the gold. Si and Bob were anxious to 
see Mark get around once more, and soon they 
grew anxious to know what had become of Maybe 
Dixon. 

As two days more passed, Si determined to go 
up in the mountain on a hunt for Dixon. 

“He may have fallen over some cliff and been 
killed,” said the former farm lad. “He said he 
would be back, and as he hasn’t come he must be 
in trouble of some sort.” 

“Well, you look out that you don’t get into 
trouble,” answered Bob. 

Si went out on foot, as Maybe Dixon had done, 
and tramped up the mountain, and along various 
trails for the best part of the day. Toward night- 


236 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

fall he met an old prospector who said he had 
passed Maybe Dixon two days before, bound for 
the gulch. 

‘‘He didn't tell me out and out, but he led me to 
believe that he had struck a rich find,” said the old 
prospector. 

“He didn’t come back.” 

“That’s queer. Perhaps he went back, to make 
sure about the find. Men sometimes do that, you 
know. They can’t believe the evidence of their 
own senses at first — if the find is a very rich 
one.” 

Si did not know what to do. He camped under 
a tree that night and early in the morning con- 
tinued his search. Then he reached a spot where 
somebody had eaten a meal and from the evi- 
dences strewn around knew that Maybe Dixon 
had been there. Footprints led along another 
trail from this point and he followed, up a hill 
and then into a patch of forest. 

He had not gone far into the forest when he 
came to a rude shack, in front of which a camp- 
fire was smoldering. By the side of the camp- 
fire two men were talking earnestly. 

The men were tough characters, as Si could see 
at a glance. Each wore a pistol in his belt and 
was attired in a Mexican costume, with cloak and 
broad-brimmed hat. 


THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DIXON 


237 


“Mexican gold hunters,” thought Si, and he 
was right. 

He slipped behind the trees and drew closer. 
The men were conversing in Spanish, so he did 
not understand a word of what was said. But 
once in a while one would point to the shack and 
tap his pistol significantly. 

Had the men appeared more agreeable, the 
the youth might have shown himself. But their 
looks were against them and Si had no desire to 
meet them face to face. He surmised that they 
could speak little English, and would therefore be 
unable to answer any question he might put con- 
cerning Maybe Dixon. 

The Mexicans continued to talk for fully five 
minutes. Then one slipped into the shack. He 
came out immediately, and a moment later the two 
men walked away, up the mountain-side. 

Si could not tell why he felt that way, but he 
had a strong desire to look into the shack, al- 
though he was half inclined to believe it was 
empty. He waited until the two Mexicans were 
out of sight and then crossed the little opening 
and peered into the rude building. 

At first he could see little or nothing, it was 
so dark inside. But then he made out the 
form of a man, lying on his side and breathing 
heavily. 


238 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Maybe Dixon!” he gasped and bent over the 
form. “What does this mean ?” 

The old miner tried to straighten out, and gave 
a groan. Si then saw that blood was flowing 
from a cut on the man’s forehead and that he had 
his hands bound behind him and his ankles also 
fastened together. He got out his jackknife and 
lost no time in setting Maybe Dixon free. 

“Did those Mexicans do this?” he asked. 

“Yes,” came from Maybe Dixon, in a hoarse 
whisper. “Si, for the love of heaven, give me 
some water ! I am dying of thirst !” 

The boy understood, and running outside he 
made for the nearest mountain stream and came 
back with a cup of water. He made three trips 
before Maybe Dixon’s thirst was satisfied. Then 
he got more water, washed the cut on the fore- 
head, and bound it up with a handkerchief. 

“What does this mean ?” he asked. 

“Are they gone?” asked the old miner. 

“Yes.” 

“How did you get here?” 

“I came up on the mountain, looking for 
you.” 

“Good boy, Si ! Have you a pistol?” 

“Yes.” 

“Let me have it.” 

“What for?” 


THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DIXON 


239 


“I want to shoot them skunks on sight! They 
ain’t fit to live.” 

“I don’t think they will be back just yet. 
They went up into the mountain. But what is it 
all about ?” 

‘T’ve struck a gold mine about five miles from 
here — a regular bonanza. Those fellows sus- 
pected it and followed me. Then they made me a 
prisoner and did all they could think of to get 
my secret away from me,” answered Maybe 
Dixon. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


STRIKING A BONANZA 

After that the old miner told his story in de- 
tail, how he had wandered around the mountain 
for three days, trying several spots that held out a 
promise of gold. Some were fair, but the last 
spot he had visited had every indication of being 
a bonanza. He had marked it and then come 
away, thinking to take the news back to camp. 
On the way he had met an old prospector and had 
said he had found something quite good. He 
thought the old prospector, who could talk Span- 
ish, must have told the two Mexicans. The 
Mexicans were nothing but brigands, and they 
had followed and waylaid him and dragged him 
to the shack. There they had tried by every 
means in their power to make Maybe Dixon re- 
veal his secret, starving him and giving him no 
water, and hitting him with their pistols. 

“The last thing they did was to promise to 
bring a rattlesnake to the shack. Then, if I didn’t 


240 


STRIKING A BONANZA 


241 


promise to lead them to the find, they would let 
the rattler bite me.” 

“What awful wretches !” gasped Si. “No 
wonder you feel like shooting them on sight.” 

As soon as Maybe Dixon felt strong enough, 
they left the shack. Scarcely had they gotten 
outside than Si gave a cry : 

“There they are now!” 

“Where?” 

“Up on yonder rocks !” 

Maybe Dixon looked in the direction, and 
catching sight of one of the Mexicans fired the 
pistol at him. At once the man and his com- 
panion fired in return and then disappeared up 
the mountain trail, running as hard as they 
could. 

“They won’t come back now,” said Si, after the 
momentary excitement was over. None of the 
shots had taken effect. 

“They had better not,” answered Maybe 
Dixon. “I am going armed after this, every day, 
so they had better beware.” 

Dixon was so weak that the two had to take 
their time about returning to the gulch. The 
want of water had almost driven him crazy, and 
he was more than bitter against the Mexicans 
every time he thought of them. 

“I couldn’t have held out much longer,” he 


242 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

said. “I would have had to give in, if you hadn’t 
V come along.” 

“I am mighty glad I did,” answered Si. “But 
I guess those greasers will be mad at me now 
too.” 

“Yes, you watch out that you don’t git into 
trouble. Don’t trust ’em an inch.” 

“I won’t.” 

The return to camp was hailed with delight by 
Bob and Mark, who listened in amazement to the 
tale the old miner had to tell. They all agreed 
that they must go armed in the future, and two 
good pistols were purchased without delay. 
More than this, the boys spent some time in shoot- 
ing at a mark, doing very well after a little 
practice. 

“After this we’ll have to go on the principle 
that every man is an enemy until he proves him- 
self a friend,” said Bob. “It’s a hard way to do, 
but it can’t be helped.” 

As soon as Mark felt strong enough for the 
journey, they moved their camp up the mountain- 
side. Tillie West went with them, and so did 
her father and mother and two miners named 
Dawson and Keith. The boys and Maybe Dixon 
were glad to have the others in the colony, as it 
would have been lonely otherwise. Besides, Si 
wanted Tillie to go along, and the young house- 


STRIKING A BONANZA 


243 


keeper would not go without her father and 
mother. 

It was a clear and rather cool, breezy day when 
Maybe Dixon led the boys to the new diggings 
and staked out his claim. Mr. West staked a 
claim close by, and the other miners did the same. 
Then all began to work, anxious to see what the 
'“bonanza,” as Maybe Dixon termed it, would 
bring forth. 

The spot was between two hills of rocks and 
dirt. There had once been a stream there, but 
this had long since dried up. The place had a 
low growth of bushes which were cleared away 
after some labor. It was not long after this that 
the)' got down to pay dirt. 

“Ten dollars at least to a panful,” announced 
Maybe Dixon. “Ain’t that rich ?” 

“It’s fine !” declared Mark, who was looking on. 
He did not feel strong enough as yet to go to 
work. 

The others were more than satisfied, especially 
as some small nuggets were found, and all went to 
work with a will. The claims of the other miners 
were also satisfactory, and soon more men drifted 
to the spot until the colony numbered a score or 
more. It was called the Maybe Hill settlement, 
after Maybe Dixon, much to that individual's 
satisfaction. 


244 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Never thought as how I’d have a village 
named after me,” said he. “Hope she proves a 
buster.” 

“It looks as if she might,” answered Bob, with 
a laugh. 

A week passed and Mark grew steadily 
stronger. He wanted to go to work again, but 
the others thought he had best wait a few days 
longer. 

“You don’t want a relapse,” said Bob. “It 
might prove worse than the original attack.” 

As they would not let him work, Mark spent 
the time in roaming around the mountain-side, 
looking at the various diggings and prospects. 
He kept his eyes wide open for the two villainous 
Mexicans, but they did not appear. 

Since his sickness Mark had asked several times 
about Morgan Fitzsimmons, Sag Ruff, and Soapy 
Gannon. Then Si went to the settlement for a 
new pick and a washing pan and came back with 
the announcement that the three men had left for 
parts unknown. 

“They were wanted too — by some men who 
were swindled at cards — but nobody knew when 
they got out, or how,” said Si. 

Mark had written a long letter to his step- 
father, explaining the situation. The letter was 
sent to San Francisco, but there was no telling 


STRIKING A BONANZA 


245 


when it would get to Philadelphia or when an 
answer could be expected. 

On the second day of his journeying around the 
mountain Mark came to a particularly deep gully, 
located at the bottom of what had once been a 
landslide. Great rocks were on both sides of the 
opening and also the remains of some large trees. 

“There may be gold down here,” thought the 
youth, and resolved to investigate. It was no 
easy matter to reach the bottom of the gully, and 
he had to make use of a rope for that purpose. 
Then traveling along the bottom of the opening' 
proved laborious and his progress was necessarily 
slow. 

Mark had been hunting around a good two 
hours when he came to a spot where a large and 
somewhat flat rock had blocked a portion of the 
landslide. Under the flat rock was an opening 
several feet wide and almost as high as his head. 
How deep it was he could not tell from the out- 
side. 

His curiosity was excited, and he lit a bit of 
tallow candle he carried and walked into the open- 
ing a distance of several yards. It was smaller 
inside and he had to walk along with bent head. 
Then he came to where several sharp rocks stuck 
out in a semicircle, with a good deal of sand and 
dirt underneath. 


246 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

He placed his candle on a rock and began to 
examine the interior of the cavern. The sand 
looked as if it contained gold, and he took some in 
his hand and held it close to the light. 

“Gold, beyond a doubt !” he murmured. “This 
spot ought to pay very well. It may be every bit 
as good as the spot the others are now working. 
No use of talking, California is certainly the land 
of gold !” 

He continued to hunt around the cavern, find* 
ing evidences of loose gold on all sides of him. 
Then, with a small crowbar he was carrying, he 
pried up several of the rocks, taking care not to 
disturb any which might bring the roof down on 
his head. 

One rock in particular was hard to move, but 
Mark kept at it, and presently it fell away, re- 
vealing a dark pocket several feet in depth. The 
young gold hunter took his candle and held it 
down in front of him. 

“Eureka !” 

Mark gasped out the word, as a dull, yellowish 
lump lying on some sand below caught his eye. 
His hand began to tremble so that he let the tal- 
low candle fall into the hole. It went out, leav- 
ing him in darkness. 

“A nugget, I’ll wager my head!” he murmured 
and reached down into the hole. Soon he had 


STRIKING A BONANZA 


247 


hold of the lump and with an effort he raised it 
up and placed it on the floor of the cavern. Then 
he took it in both hands and stumbled to the outer 
air with his find. 

The sight before him almost took away his 
breath. He held in his hand a nugget that was 
almost pure gold. It was of good size and heavy, 
and he knew it must be worth at least five thou- 
sand dollars, if not much more ! 


CHAPTER XXIX 


A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS 

Mark continued to look at the nugget with 
great interest. It was the largest find made in 
that territory and his joy knew no bounds. 

“Perhaps there are more of them,” he told him- 
self., “If so, our fortunes are made.” 

At last he placed the nugget on one side of the 
cavern and felt down in the hole for what was left 
of the candle. It was only a tiny mite, and be- 
fore he could do more than take a second look at 
the hole it went out, leaving nothing but a patch 
of grease behind. 

“Never mind, we can come up to-morrow and 
investigate,” said Mark to himself. “But I’d 
better take that nugget with me.” 

He walked outside once more and placed the 
nugget near a fallen tree. Then he set up a stick 
at one side of the opening and another stick on 
the opposite side, that he might mark the locality. 
This done, he took a good look around, to fix “the 
lay of the land” in his head. 

248 


A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS 


249 


“I mustn’t lose this spot as Jacobs lost his 
mine,” he told himself. He referred to a Jew 
named Moses Jacobs, who told a story of finding a 
wonderfully rich mine and then losing it. This 
mine was relocated some years later and proved 
to be of good value, but poor Jacobs never got 
anything out of it. 

As Mark’s gaze swept the horizon he started, 
for up on the mountain-side he discerned two men, 
both looking down upon him. They were the 
two rascally Mexicans, he felt sure, for each wore 
the bright-colored cloak and the wide-brimmed, 
sharp-pointed hat which Si and Maybe Dixon had 
described. 

The boy was startled and looked eagerly at 
the nugget of gold, which was hidden by the tree 
limbs. Had the Mexicans seen him handling that 
precious bit of metal? If so, would they try to 
rob him of it ? 

The cold perspiration stood out on Mark’s fore- 
head. He felt in his belt and satisfied himself 
that his pistol was there, ready for use. 

“They shan’t rob me of it — I’ll fight first !” he 
told himself, and set his teeth hard. Then he 
began to climb out of the gully, supporting the 
precious nugget under his shirt, next to his belt. 

To his alarm the Mexicans walked toward him 
and one of them called out something in Spanish 


250 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

which he did not understand. He shook his head 
and continued to walk on, getting as far from' 
them as possible. But they continued to come 
after him. 

There was a patch of timber a few rods away, 
and toward this went Mark, leaving the regular 
trail and taking to a smaller one made by moun- 
tain deer. 

As soon as he gained the timber he broke into a 
run, and kept this up until he was all but ex- 
hausted. Then he came out at a spot directly 
above the camp and shouted loudly to Bob 
and Si, who chanced to be working within hear- 
ing distance. 

“What’s up, Mark ?” yelled back Bob. 

“I want help. Come up, and call Maybe 
Dixon.” 

The old miner was not far away, and soon the 
two boys and the man climbed up to where Mark 
sat on a rock, panting heavily. 

“What’s the trouble?” asked Maybe Dixon. 
“Wild animals or Injuns?” 

“Those two Mexicans!” gasped the exhausted 
youth. “They were after me! I think they 
wanted to rob me !” 

“The skunks!” roared the old miner. “Where 
are they now?” 

“I don’t know.” 


A CRUSHING LOSS 267 

to say next, or what to do. Then Mark gave a 
start. 

“We are forgetting poor Si !’’ he cried. “We 
must try to find him. Perhaps he is in trouble 
and needs help.” 

“That is true,” answered Bob. “Let us go 
down to the bottom of the landslide.” 

“But our gold?” demanded Maybe Dixon. 
“What of the rascals who took it ?” 

“We can follow them up afterwards — if we 
can find the trail.” 

“Supposing I hunt for the trail while you look 
for Si ? It won’t take all three of us to look for 
the boy.” 

The others were willing, and soon Mark and 
Bob were on their way down the mountain, fol- 
lowing the direction the slide had taken. The 
way was rough and uncertain. Trees often 
barred their progress, and they had to pick their 
way around loose rocks with care. 

“Take care that you don’t take a tumble,” cau- 
tioned the former sailor boy. “We can’t afford 
it.” 

A tree was in front of them and they were on 
the point of going around it when they heard a 
faint cry. There lay poor Si, caught fast between 
two heavy branches. 

“Oh, I was afraid you were all dead!” said the 


268 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


former farm lad. “Didn’t the landslide cover 
you up?” 

“Yes, but we dug our way out/’ answered 
Mark. “Are you hurt?” 

“I think my shoulder is bruised, that is all. 
But the shock stunned me and I only came to my 
senses a little while ago. Can you get me out 
of this trap?” 

“To be sure we can,” cried Bob, and he and 
Mark set to work immediately. It was no easy 
task, but was finally accomplished, much to Si's 
satisfaction. 

“By the way, I saw those Mexicans again,” 
said Si, as he nursed his bruised shoulder. “I 
caught sight of ’em just before the landslide 
came. They were near the top of the moun- 
tain.” 

“My gracious, I wonder if they started that 
landslide !” gasped Mark. 

“It would be nothing to wonder at,” answered 
Bob. 

“They ought to be hanged for it if they did,” 
put in Si. 

“Our gold is gone,” explained Mark. “Some- 
body dug it up and made off with it.” 

“Oh !” gasped the former farm boy, and a look 
of real agony crossed his face. “You don’t mean 
it!” 


A CRUSHING LOSS 269 

“It is true/’ said Bob. “Maybe Dixon is try- 
ing to find the trail of the thieves.” 

Now that Si was found the boys could think of 
nothing but the loss of the gold. It was such a 
crushing blow it made them heartsick. 

“All of our hard work gone for nothing,” 
groaned Si. “And we may never make such a 
rich find again !” 

“We must locate those greasers,” said Bob. 
“They must be the guilty ones.” 

“With somebody to help them,” said Mark. “I 
don’t think they did the job alone.” 

“I am going to get into one of the trees and 
look around,” said Bob, and began to climb the 
tree without delay, Mark giving him a boost up. 

At first Bob could see nothing out of the ordi- 
nary. Then he discovered Maybe Dixon coming 
toward the camp slowly and dejectedly. 

“I see Maybe,” he called out. “He looks as if 
he hadn’t found anything.” 

Bob continued to look around the mountain and 
then glanced down to the foot of the landslide. 
He saw a man limping along. A moment later 
the man sank down in some bushes as if ex- 
hausted. 

“I see a stranger !” he called out. “He is down 
below us.” 

“One of the greasers?” questioned Mark. 


270 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“No, he is dressed in ordinary store clothes.” 

“Let us go down at once and see who it is,” 
cried Si. 

The others were willing, and as soon as Bob 
had descended from the tree they set out. They 
found the man on his side in the bushes, breathing 
heavily. 

“Soapy Gannon!” burst out Mark. “Sag 
Ruff’s crony !” 

Soapy Gannon was in a bad way. The land- 
slide had sprained one of his ankles, and in a roll 
down the mountain-side he had had a rib broken 
and received a severe cut along his left cheek. He 
was covered with blood and very weak. 

“What brings you here?” demanded Mark. 

“Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!” whined the 
sufferer. “I ain’t done nuthin !” 

“How did you get here?” 

“The landslide brought me down. Oh, how 
my chest hurts!” Soapy Gannon gave a gasp. 
“Got some liquor with you ?” 

“No,” said Bob. He knelt by the man’s side. 
“Soapy Gannon, I want you to answer some ques- 
tions.” 

“I didn’t do anything, I tell you!” whined the 
man. “The landslide came and took me down, as 
you can see.” 

“Were you up at our tent ?” 


A CRUSHING LOSS 


271 

“No ! no ! I wasn’t within quarter of a mile of 
your camp. ,, 

“But somebody was,” said Mark. “Who was 
it? Answer at once!” And he made a move as 
if to draw his pistol. 

“Don't shoot me !” 

“Then tell me what you know — and be quick 
about it.” 

“The greasers got up the plot — they said you 
had a lot of nuggets and dust stowed away in a 
hole in your tent. One of ’em, a fellow named 
Gomez, knew Sag Ruff and another gambler 
named Morgan Fitzsimmons. They all got in 
the game together.” 

“The two greasers, Sag Ruff, Morgan Fitz- 
simmons, and yourself,” cried Mark. He saw a 
flood of light ahead. 

“I was only a hanger-on,” whined the man. “I 
didn’t want to go into the game at all. The 
greasers plotted to shut you up in the cave, but the 
landslide was bigger than they calculated on. I 
got caught in it, and that’s the last I know of until 
I found myself here, knocked out.” 

“They stole our gold,” said Bob. 

“Got it, did they ? I was thinkin’ they might. 
Oh, how I suffer! Can’t you do something for 
me — now I’ve given you the story straight?” said 
Gannon. 


272 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Did they say where they would go, if they got 
the gold ?’’ 

“The greasers have a hiding place beyond the 
mountain — at a spot called Five Falls. They 
were going there to divide the spoils and then 
each man was to go his own way.” 

“Five Falls,” repeated Si. “I have heard of 
such a place, but I don’t know exactly where it is.” 

“Didn’t Mr. West speak of it?” asked Bob. 

“Yes!” shouted Si. “I remember now. He 
went over there prospecting.” 

“Then he must know how to reach it,” put in 
Mark. 

“Shall I go after him?” 

“Perhaps it would be best. But we can speak 
to Maybe Dixon first. He may have some clew.” 

They could do little for Soapy Gannon but give 
him a drink and bind up the wound on his face. 
But they promised to come back later on, for 
which he was thankful. 

“I’ve got my fill of Sag Ruff,” said the sufferer. 
“Instead of coming to help me he went after that 
gold. I suppose he thinks if I’m dead he can 
have so much more of the plunder.” 

“Well, if you’ll agree to testify against those 
men — providing we can capture them — I’ll do 
what I can for you,” said Mark, and Bob and Si 
said the same. 


A CRUSHING LOSS 


273 


“All right, it’s a go,” gasped Soapy Gannon, 
and then became silent, for it hurt him greatly to 
talk. 

As tired as they were, the three boys hurried 
back to what was left of the camp. Maybe Dixon 
came forward to meet them. 

“Glad to know you are all right,” he said to Si. 

“Have you any news?” asked Bob. 

“No,” and the old miner looked much dis- 
couraged. 

“We have,” went on the former sailor lad. 

The face of Maybe Dixon brightened con- 
siderably when he heard the news they had to tell. 

“I’ll go after Andy West myself,” he said. 
“I’ll get some of the other men to help us too. 
That gang has either got to be captured or wiped 
out.” 

As late as it was he set off to the gulch settle- 
ment, going down on muleback. He rode with 
all possible speed, and burst in on the West family 
as they were sitting down to supper. 

“I want you to take us over to Five Falls at 
once,” he said to Mr. West. 

“What’s up?” asked Andrew West in astonish- 
ment. 

“We have been robbed and the thieves have 
gone to that place, so we have learned. Can you 
show us where it is?” 


274 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Certainly.” 

“I want some men to go along. Is Jackson 
here?” 

“I think so.” 

Maybe Dixon then told how the camp had been 
robbed of all the four partners possessed. To 
make it worth while, he said he would give 
Andrew West five ounces of gold dust if the 
stolen gold was recovered, and later on promised 
two ounces each to four other men who said they 
would go along to help round up the thieves. 

“I don’t want any reward,” said Andrew West. 
“We must stand together when thieves are 
around. I’ll do my best for you.” 

It was midnight when the posse left the gulch 
and two o’clock in the morning when they joined 
Mark, Si, and Bob. Everybody was fully armed. 
They went on foot, since to travel to Five Falls in 
any other manner was impossible. 


CHAPTER XXXII 


THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES 

As he was the only one who knew the route, 
Andrew West took the lead, the others following 
in Indian file. It was a fairly clear night, with 
numerous stars twinkling in the sky overhead. 
All was quiet, save for the distant rush of some 
mountain torrent over the rocks. 

“I hope we are not too late,” said Mark to Bob. 
“I don’t want to lose all that gold.” 

“Nor I. But I don’t think they’ll hurry — un- 
less they suspect that we have discovered the 
truth.” 

“Oh, they won’t let the grass grow under their 
feet,” put in Si. “They know what it means out 
here to be caught stealing.” 

The route lay down the opposite side of the 
mountain and then along a watercourse lined on 
one side with rocks and on the other with a patch 
of spare timber. Not a camp of any kind was in 
sight, for nothing in the way of gold had been dis- 
covered in that vicinity. 


275 


276 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

As the party moved forward, Maybe Dixon 
told a good part of his story, to which Mr. West 
and the other men listened with interest. He did 
not tell what the stolen gold was worth, but said 
it was “considerable,” and the others understood. 

“It is funny the greasers didn’t try to get the 
gold alone,” said one man. 

“They didn’t have spunk enough,” answered 
another. “Behind it all, they are very cowardly. 
They went after Mark because he was a boy and 
thought they could get the nugget away from him 
with ease.” 

The journey to Five Falls took the best part 
of three hours and at its end Mark, who had not 
yet fully recovered from his sickness, was ready 
to drop from weariness. But he did not com- 
plain, for he realized how much was at stake. 

“Can you go on?” asked Bob, who saw him 
falter a little. 

“Yes, Bob, I am going on.” 

“It’s rather tough on you. Why don’t you let 
us go ahead alone?” 

“No, I want to see the finish of this affair.” 

Five Falls was a narrow gorge between two 
hills of good size. Here the water of the river 
tumbled over a series of rocks, making a most 
picturesque bit of scenery. One of the hills was 
covered with low bushes, the other with a sweep 


THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES 277 

of tall timber, including some trees of remarkable 
size. 

“Well, here we are,” declared Andrew West, 
as he came to a halt beside the falls. He spoke in 
a low tone, knowing that they must be cautious. 

All in the party looked around. Nothing out 
of the ordinary was in sight. 

“Let us divide into two parties,” suggested 
Maybe Dixon. “One can take to one side o’ the 
stream and one to tudder. If them rascals came 
up here they must be somewhere about.” 

The posse was divided as suggested. Mark, 
Bob, and Andrew West remained where they were 
while the others crossed the gorge, leaping from 
rock to rock where the falls were. Then all be- 
gan to journey up the gorge. 

“Wait! I see a light!” whispered Bob, pres- 
ently. He pointed among the trees, some dis- 
tance ahead. 

“I see it too,” declared Mark. “It must be a 
camp of some kind.” 

A low whistle was given — a signal that some- 
thing had been discovered. At once Maybe 
Dixon’s party halted and the old miner came to 
the edge of the gorge. 

“What is it ?” he asked. 

“A light ahead. Must be a camp of some 
sort.” 


278 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Good enough! Go ahead, and we’ll come 
over as soon as we can.” 

Andrew West, Mark, and Bob increased their 
speed, and soon came in sight of a rude shack, 
from the open doorway of which the light was 
streaming. They could see several men moving 
around. 

‘Til wager those are the thieves!” exclaimed 
Bob. “Don’t you see the tall hat of one of the 
Mexicans?” 

He had scarcely spoken when a pistol shot rang 
out on the still air. It came from a point some 
distance in front of the shack. Then they saw a 
man run from some bushes towards the rear of 
the building. 

“Did he shoot at us?” asked Mark. 

“No, I fancy that was a signal,” answered 
Andrew West. “They have spotted us and are 
going to try to get away !” 

He was right, one of the Mexicans had been on 
guard. Now he ran back of the shack, to where 
several horses were tied. 

“A posse is coming,” he cried, to the other 
Mexican. “They are on both sides of the river. 
We must ride for it if we would get away!” 

Sag Ruff and Morgan Fitzsimmons were look- 
ing over the stolen nuggets at the time — trying to 
decide how they might be divided. The swindler 


THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES 279 

from the South understood Spanish and gave a 
start. 

“What did he say?” asked Fitzsimmons. 

“A posse is already after us. We’ll have to get 
out,” ejaculated Sag Ruff. 

“So soon?” 

“Yes, although that seems impossible.” Sag 
Ruff swept the nuggets into a bag. “Come 
on.” 

They ran outside. The Mexican who had 
given the alarm was already coming around with 
the horses. He pointed down the gorge. 

“I see them !” cried Sag Ruff. 

“There are others, too, — on the other side!” 
gasped Morgan Fitzsimmons. “How in the 
world did they get here so quickly ?” 

“Something must have gone wrong,” answered 
Sag Ruff. “Maybe they got out of that landslide 
in time to see us go away in this direction. But, 
no matter how it is, we have got to ride for it 
now, and ride hard !” 

The men were soon in the saddle. The light 
was put out, and they started along a trail lead- 
ing through the thick timber. 

“Stop!” cried Bob. “Stop, or we’ll fire on 
you !” 

The rascals paid no attention. Then Bob fired, 
and so did Mark and Andrew West. In the 


2 8o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

meantime the others of the party were scrambling- 
over the river as best they could. 

The thieves did not take the time to fire back. 
None of them was hit, and soon a turn of the trail 
took them out of sight. 

“Come on after them !” cried Si, as soon as he 
was across the stream. “Come on — we must 
catch them !” 

“I don’t see how we are going to follow on 
foot,” sighed Maybe Dixon. “A man can’t run 
against a hoss, nohow.” 

“He can if the trail isn’t very good,” insisted 
the former farm boy. “They may not know the 
way very well and get mixed up in the dark. I 
don’t believe in standing still and doing nothing,” 
he added, pleadingly. 

“Neither do I,” returned Bob. “Come, let’s 
go ahead.” 

It was decided to follow the trail with all the 
speed possible. They covered a distance of 
several hundred feet when Maybe Dixon set up a 
shout : 

“A hoss ! A hoss !” 

He was right, a horse was close by, in the tim- 
ber, panting violently. He had a halter dangling 
from his head, showing that he had broken away 
in some manner. 

“I thought they had an extra hoss with them 


THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES 281 

when they rode off,” said Andrew West. “This 
must be the animal.” 

“Perhaps it’s a horse intended for Soapy Gan- 
non,” suggested Si, and struck the truth of the 
matter. The steed had gotten away from one of 
the Mexicans and the rascal had been afraid to 
lose the time necessary to catch him. 

“I’ll use that hoss an’ go after them hot- 
footed,” declared Maybe Dixon, as he captured 
the animal and swung up in the saddle. “If I 
can’t bring ’em to terms I’ll keep my eye on ’em 
until you come up.” 

“But they may travel for miles,” said Mark. 

“I’ll fix it so you can follow me,” said Maybe 
Dixon. “Hand me one of them flowering 
bushes.” 

The bush in question was of good size and 
covered with bright yellow flowers. The old 
miner tucked it in behind him. 

“I’ll drop a flower now and then,” he said. 
“That will be easy to see.” And then he rode off 
after the evil-doers, and was soon out of sight. 

It was now growing light in the east, and soon 
day was at hand. The whole party marched on 
steadily, Mark being the only one to drag behind. 
Fortunately one man had thought to bring some 
rations along, and these were divided evenly all 
around. They washed the food down with a 


282 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


drink at a spring and kept on until noon. They 
were now away from the big hill and traveling 
towards a series of rocks backed up by tall cliffs. 

“Hullo, here is a mining camp !” cried Bob, as 
they came to a turn in the trail. 

“And horses !” ejaculated Si, as he caught sight 
of a number of animals. 

The miners in the camp were just stirring. 
They had not seen the gold thieves but had talked 
to Maybe Dixon, who had asked them for the loan 
of their steeds, for the benefit of his friends. The 
miners were willing enough to let their horses go 
on a mission of justice, and soon Mark, Si, Bob, 
and all of the others were in the saddle. 

“I am more than thankful for this,” said Mark. 
“I couldn’t have gone another step, try my best.” 

At the camp they procured some provisions, not 
knowing how long the chase might continue. 
With them went two of the miners, one of whom 
had been an under-sheriff in Missouri. 

“We’ll bring them to justice if it can be done,” 
said this man, whose name was Peckham. 

Maybe Dixon had evidently gotten a fresh 
supply of yellow flowers, for the trail was strewn 
thickly with them, so it could be followed with 
ease. It led through the upper end of the mining 
camp and then over the rocks and along the bot- 
tom of the series of cliffs just mentioned. 


A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS 


* 5 * 


“Did you have much with you?” questioned 
Bob. 

“Take me to the tent and I’ll show you what I 
have.” 

“Make a find?” queried Si, eagerly. 

“Yes.” 

The three others helped Mark down the moun- 
tain-side and into the tent. Tillie had gone to 
her father’s camp, so the partners were alone. 

“What do you think of this?” asked Mark, as 
he drew forth the big nugget with much pride. 

“Phew !” whistled Bob. 

“What a whopper!” came from Si. 

“The best yet — by a good deal,” murmured 
Maybe Dixon, his eyes glistening. 

“I reckon it is worth at least five thousand dol- 
lars,” said Mark, in a low voice. 

“Every bit of it, lad, and most likely six or 
seven,” answered the old miner. “Where did you 
get it?” 

Sitting close to his friends, so that nobody out- 
side might hear, Mark told his tale, to which the 
others listened with breathless interest. When he 
mentioned the cave Bob’s eyes opened widely. 

“Maybe it is filled with nuggets,” said he. 

“Maybe,” put in Maybe Dixon, quickly. “Any- 
way, we ought to stake a claim.” 

“Exactly what I think — and the sooner the bet- 


252 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

ter,” came from Si. “If we don’t, those greasers 
may get some friends to step in for them and do 
the trick.” 

“Those rascals won’t dare to show themselves,” 
said Ma^be Dixon. “But, as Si says, they may 
get somebody else to stake a claim for a share of 
the findings.” 

“I move we stake a claim this very night,” said 
Bob. “There is no use of waiting.” 

His opinion was the opinion of all. The ques- 
tion was, Could Mark find the spot in the dark, 
and was he strong enough to make the journey? 

“I think I can make it if you go slow,” said the 
youth. “But about finding the place, that is an- 
other question. I can’t, if it is too dark.” 

“But we can get close to it,” said Bob, “and 
then stake a claim as soon as it gets light 
enough.” 

An hour later they were ready to leave. The 
nugget was hidden in a hollow behind some 
bushes, they not wishing to take the time to bury 
it, and tying up the tent they set off. They 
carried with them a pick, shovel, and washing pan, 
besides candles, a lantern, matches, and some few 
provisions. Each went armed, with the weapons 
ready for immediate use. 

The way was a long one to Mark, and the 
others had frequently to aid him up the rocks and 


A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS 


253 


across dangerous pitfalls. Once Si was in danger 
of going over a cliff, but Bob and Maybe Dixon 
caught him in the nick of time. 

“Gosh !” spluttered the former farm lad. 
“Guess that was a narrow shave for me !” 

“Be careful,” warned the old miner. “We 
don’t want to lose a life for all the nuggets in 
these mountains.” 

Unfortunately, it was dark and there were some 
signs of a coming storm. They kept on steadily 
for about an hour, when Mark called a halt. 

“It’s no use,” he said. “I can’t see the way. 
We’ll have to camp somewhere until morning.” 

They found a small shelter under some over- 
hanging rocks and there proceeded to make them- 
selves as comfortable as circumstances permitted. 
They cut down some small pines and used the 
boughs as bedding and made a campfire of the 
trunks. Mark was glad enough to lie down and 
was soon in the land of dreams, and one after 
another the others followed his example. 

When they awoke in the morning, there was a 
heavy mist on the mountain, so that they could 
not see a hundred feet in any direction. 

“This is the worst yet,” grumbled Bob. He 
was wild with excitement to reach the cavern and 
explore it thoroughly. The others were in a 
similar condition of mind. For all they knew 


2 54 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

there might be more big nuggets there awaiting 
them. 

They had to remain where they were until 
about eleven o’clock. Then a slight wind sprang 
up and the mist was driven away as if by magic. 
By noon the sun was out as strong as ever. 

Mark took a careful survey of the mountain 
and then located the spot where the cavern was, 
and all set out once more. They had to walk 
around two deep gullies and climb some extra- 
slippery rocks, but at last reached the landslide. 

“There are my sticks and there is the cavern,” 
said Mark. 

“Hurrah!” shouted Bob, enthusiastically. 
“Now for more big nuggets!” 

“Don’t be too sure,” warned Maybe Dixon. 
“Maybe there ain’t another nugget near the 
spot.” 

“Oh, there must be!” cried Si. “It’s just the 
place for ’em !” 

They got down the landslide in short order and 
hurried to the cavern. Then the lantern was lit, 
and also two candles, and they walked inside. 

A brief glance around showed Mark that every- 
thing was as he had left it. Without delay, 
Maybe Dixon sank his pick deep in the ground 
and his shovel followed. 

“In the name of us four partners I stake this 



A FORTUNE IN NUGGETS 


255 


claim!” he cried. “Now let them greasers or 
their friends come on if they dare !” 

“But we must set out regular stakes, if the spot 
is any good,” said Bob. 

“Right you are, lad, but we’ll take a look 
around first.” 

Si was already at work and the others soon fol- 
lowed. They scooped a large quantity of sand 
from the hole at the back of the cavern and then 
dislodged several small rocks. 

“Look ! look !” cried Bob, presently, and 
brought up a nugget half the size of the one found 
by Mark. “There’s a couple of thousand dollars 
for you !” 

“And here is another!” came from Si, bringing 
up a lump equally large. 

“And two more,” added Maybe Dixon, holding 
them up. “Boys, this is the banner find of this 
district !” 

“We’ll be rich!” cried Mark. “We’ll be rich! 
Oh, but ain't I glad !” 

They continued to dig and scrape away in 
feverish haste and soon brought to light half a 
dozen small nuggets. Then they reached an- 
other pocket, filled with sand and coarse gold 
grains. 

“The richest kind of washing,” said Maybe 
Dixon. 


256 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Oh, we can’t stop to wash now!” cried Si. 
“Let us look for nuggets !” And they continued 
to labor, harder than ever. 

By nightfall they were completely exhausted, 
but supremely happy. They had unearthed 
twenty-four nuggets of various sizes and shapes. 
Maybe Dixon surveyed each with care and 
counted up the probable value. 

“I can’t strike it very close,” said he. “Fer we 
don’t know the quality of ’em. But I should say 
we had all of thirty thousand dollars’ worth o’ 
gold here. And more’n likely that sand will pan 
out ten thousand dollars’ worth more.” 

“Forty thousand dollars!” gasped Si. “We’ll 
surely be rich now ! Oh, what will my folks say 
when they hear of this !” 


CHAPTER XXX 


THE LANDSLIDE 

They scarcely knew what to do with their 
treasure. The nuggets were heavy, so it would 
be no easy matter to move them from one place to 
another. 

“I think the best we can do for the present is to 
bury them,” said Maybe Dixon. 

“We’ll have to move up here,” returned Mark. 

“To be sure — and bring our other gold up too. 
We can’t be at two claims at once.” 

So it was decided, and early on the following 
morning the three boys went back to the old camp 
and prepared to move. 

“Going to quit, eh?” said Mr. West. 

“We are going up in the mountain,” answered 
Bob. “I don’t suppose Tillie will want to go 
along.” 

“No, her mother isn’t feeling well and she will 
have to stay at our place now. I came over to tell 
you.” 


257 


258 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Tell her I am sorry,” said Si. “I am coming 
down to see you folks some day.” 

“Si is surely smitten on Tillie,” whispered Bob 
to Mark. 

“Well, she is certainly a good girl and will 
make somebody a good wife,” answered Mark. 

The three boys could scarcely realize their good 
fortune. With the gold previously found the 
four partners were now worth all of fifty thousand 
dollars. 

“That’s twelve thousand apiece and two thou- 
sand left over for expenses,” said Si. “Why, 
my father was never worth so much in his whole 
life!” 

“Nor mine,” added Bob. “I am mighty glad I 
gave up whaling and took to gold hunting, I can 
tell you!” 

“We haven’t got to the end of it yet,” added 
Mark. “That cavern may prove to be more than 
a bonanza. We must be careful how we stake 
out our claim.” 

It was nightfall by the time they reached the 
cavern once more. They brought Darling with 
them and all of their possessions. It was no 
new thing for gold hunters to leave a camp sud- 
denly, so their departure from the gulch created 
no surprise. 

“Got tired of stayin’ here, I suppose,” said one 


THE LANDSLIDE 


2 59 


old miner. “Wall, Fm gatin’ a leetle tired o’ it 
myself.” 

It was decided to establish a camp to the north 
of the landslide, a distance of four hundred feet 
from the cavern. Here was a pleasant patch of 
timber and a spring of clear mountain water. 
They soon had the tent raised, and Si and Bob 
built a rude cooking place of stones. Then they 
cut some firewood, and sat down to the best meal 
they had had in two days. 

“We can afford a spread, after the find we 
have made,” said Mark. 

It was decided to bury their nuggets and gold 
dust at the rear of the tent. An extra deep hole 
was made, and they covered it with a flat stone 
and over it placed a bit of a tree trunk that did for 
a bench. 

“Fifty thousand dollars in that hole,” said Si. 
“We want to watch it.” 

“We can see the tent from the cave,” said 
Maybe Dixon. “So it will be an easy matter to 
keep an eye that way while we are working.” 

Maybe Dixon had found two small nuggets 
worth at least a hundred dollars each. He had 
also washed out some of the sand and gotten 
several ounces of almost pure gold. Everything 
on hand went into the hole before it was filled up 
with dirt and covered with the tree trunk. 


2 6o PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


Sunday passed, and then they went at the 
cavern work in earnest. They cleaned out a 
place at the rear several yards in extent. Here 
they found a big slit, extending upward, but the 
rocks were exceedingly hard to remove. 

“We ought to have some powder to blow them 
apart,” said Mark. 

“We must be careful,” said Maybe Dixon. 
“We don’t want a cave-in.” 

By the middle of the week they had twelve more 
nuggets and another small bag of dust. 

“Ten thousand dollars’ worth more,” said Bob, 
when the find was placed in “the bank,” as the 
hole had been designated. “We are getting 
wealthy, sure!” 

Thursday found them all at the cavern, work- 
ing away as industriously as ever. It was the 
middle of the forenoon and each had found a 
small nugget. In the center of the cavern floor 
was a heap of sand filled with golden grains, wait- 
ing to be washed. They were all happy and Bob 
was whistling merrily. 

“Guess I’ll go out and take a look around,” said 
Si, and started for the opening. 

Mark, Bob, and Maybe Dixon were at the rear 
of the cavern, working around a sharp, triangular 
rock. They imagined some more nuggets might 
be underneath. 


THE LANDSLIDE 


261 


“Hark !” cried Mark, suddenly. “What’s 
that?” 

All stopped work and listened. There was a 
strange rumble overhead. It kept growing louder 
and louder. 

“Look out for the landslide!” yelled Si, rushing 
into the open air. ‘“Come out, or you’ll be buried 
alive!” 

The others heard the warning and started to 
leap from the hollow where they were working. 
But before they could do so the rumble burst forth 
like thunder, all but deafening them. Then down 
came some sand and small stones, all but burying 
the three. The mouth of the cavern was 
darkened, as a mass of dirt and rocks blocked it 
up completely. 

“We are shut in !” spluttered Bob, as soon as he 
could speak. 

The rumble stopped, but soon it started again, 
as another mass of dirt slid down the mountain- 
side, directly over the cavern. Then came a 
quiver as of an earthquake, and absolute quietness 
followed. 

“Boys, are you hurt?” The question came 
from Maybe Dixon. He was up to his knees in 
loose dirt. 

“I am all right,” answered Mark. 

“A small rock hit me on the shoulder, but the 


262 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


hurt doesn’t count,” returned Bob. “Where is 
Si?” 

“I think he got out,” said Mark. “But I am 
not certain.” 

“If he did get out maybe he is worse off than 
we are,” said Maybe Dixon. “The landslide must 
have carried him down to the valley, or killed 
him.” 

For several minutes the three inside the cavern 
did not know what to do. 

“One thing is certain,” said Mark. “If we 
don’t want to be smothered we’ll have to dig our 
way out.” 

“True, but we don’t want to risk a cave-in,” 
said Maybe Dixon. “We’ll have to go at it easy- 
like” 

The candles had gone out, but the lantern was 
still lit, and holding this up they made an ex- 
amination of the cavern. The front was blocked 
up so completely that the shovel did not pass 
through it. 

“I think we had better cut upward,” said Maybe 
Dixon. “But be mighty careful.” 

They set to work, slowly and cautiously. The 
dirt was hard and mixed with stones, and some- 
times a shower came down on their heads. What 
fell was banked up for a place to stand upon while 
going higher. 


THE LANDSLIDE 


263 

An hour passed and the air in the cavern began 
to grow foul. Mark was the first to notice this. 

“We ought to have ventilation/’ he remarked. 

“This makes me sleepy,” said Bob. 

“Don’t go to sleep, or you’ll never wake up!” 
cried the old miner. “Keep at the work and we’ll 
be sure to git out sooner or later.” 

Another hour passed and the air became so bad 
they could hardly breathe. They were all thirsty, 
but no water was at hand. They looked at each 
other in despair. 

“We have got to get out!” said Mark, deter- 
minedly. “Come on, don’t give up yet.” 

Growing desperate, they attacked the top of the 
cavern with vigor, letting the dirt and stones fall 
all around them. Then down came a big rock, 
just grazing Bob’s head. 

“I’m glad it didn’t land on my head,” said the 
boy, after leaping to one side. 

“I see a streak of light !” ejaculated Mark and 
pointed upward. 

The light was there, a single ray of sunshine, 
coming from a slit in the rocks. Mark sniffed 
the air. 

“That is better, anyhow,” said he. “With that 
opening we shan’t smother to death.” 

They had now to work with greater care than 
ever, piling up the rocks around them, as a sup- 


264 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

port for what was left of the roof of the cavern. 
But their labors tolcl, and inside of another hour 
Mark was able to stand on Maybe Dixon’s shoul- 
ders and drag himself up out of the cave to a 
shelving rock which kept the rest of the cavern 
roof from caving in. Then Bob came up, after 
which the two youths hauled the old miner up by 
means of the pick handle and a short rope that 
was handy. 

“Thank heaven w r e are out of that !” said Mark, 
sincerely. 

“We must look for Si,” came from Bob. “Si ! 
Si !” he called out. “Where are you ?” 

No answer came back. Then they looked to- 
ward the spot where the tent had been. The 
shelter was knocked flat, but otherwise the land- 
slide had apparently done little damage in that 
direction. 

“Let us go over to the tent,” said Bob. “I am 
dying for a drink of water. Then we can look 
for poor Si.” 

They got out of the dirt and loose rocks as best 
they could and walked over to the fallen tent. 
Some round rocks were lying about and one had 
sent the tree trunk rolling down the hill, thus 
bringing down the canvas. 

“The hole !” yelled Maybe Dixon, suddenly. 
“The hole! Somebody has dug up our gold!” 


V 


THE LANDSLIDE 265 

He pointed to the hole, and they all ran in that 
direction. The dirt was scattered in all direc- 
tions and near at hand lay a pick and two shovels. 

“It’s empty!” muttered Mark, hoarsely. 

“Empty?” echoed Bob, faintly. “Are you 
sure?” 

“Yes, every one of our nuggets is gone and the 
gold dust, too !” 


CHAPTER XXXI 


A CRUSHING LOSS 

For a moment or two the three could not realize 
the truth of the crushing discovery which they 
had made. The precious gold dust and the nug- 
gets were gone — not a grain of their wealth re- 
mained. It was too awful to be true. 

“Gone!” gasped Maybe Dixon, and staggered 
to a rock and dropped down. “Who did this?” 
He leaped up, a cold glitter in his eyes. “Show 
me the rascal and I’ll kill him on the spot !” 

“More than one rascal did this,” said Mark, 
pointing to the pick and shovels. “Looks like 
three to me.” 

“And they worked fast too,” came from Bob. 
“They just threw the dirt any way, so as to get to 
the bottom of the hole.” 

“They must have been watching us,” went on 
Mark. “As soon as the landslide came they took 
advantage of it.” 

There followed a silence, nobody knowing what 

266 


THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES 283 

“This is certainly proving a long chase/' said 
Andrew West, after several miles had been 
covered. 

“The rascals will have to rest some time,” an- 
swered Mark. “Their horses will give out. 
Luckily ours are fresh.” 

They kept on, and towards evening came to a 
spot where the cliffs were particularly rugged. 
They could see a long distance ahead and made 
out a figure on horseback, waving a hand in the 
air. 

“It’s Maybe Dixon!” cried Si. 

“Perhaps he has lost the trail,” came from 
Mark. 

“Oh, don’t say that,” came from Bob, in fresh 
alarm. “They couldn’t throw him as easily as all 
that.” 

As soon as he knew he was seen, Maybe Dixon 
rode his horse to a slight depression between the 
rocks, where he waited for the posse to come up. 
He was tired out, but his leathery face wore some- 
thing of a smile. 

“Where are they?” demanded Mark. 

“Over yonder, in a cave,” was the answer, and 
the old miner pointed out the place with his 
hand. 

“You saw them go in?” queried Bob. 

“I did, hosses an’ all.” 


284 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Has the cave a back opening ?” questioned Si, 
quickly. 

“I don’t think so, although I am not sartin.” 

“We’ll soon make sure,” put in Andrew West. 
“I’ll ride up on top of the cliffs and some of you 
can go with me.” 

“I’ll go,” said Bob, promptly. 

“So will I,” added Si. 

“I shall remain here with Maybe Dixon,” said 
Mark. “And I think the others ought to remain 
too. Those fellows may make a break for liberty 
when we least expect it.” 

“Mark is right,” said Peckham. “They may 
be planning a break at this very minute.” 

“Let us arrange a signal,” said Maybe Dixon. 
“If either party wants help, fire three shots in 
rapid succession.” 

So it was agreed; and a minute later the party 
to ascend the cliffs rode away, to where a narrow 
path led upward. 

“Be careful here, boys,” warned Andrew West, 
who was in the lead. “A tumble might hurt you 
a good deal.” 

The trail was by no means an easy one, and as 
they mounted higher and higher it seemed to 
grow more dangerous. A single slip of a horse’s 
hoof and the rider would have been thrown down 
a distance of a hundred feet or more. 


THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES 285 

“This is the kind of traveling I don’t like,” re- 
marked Si, as he looked down to the rocks below 
and shivered. 

“Don’t look down — keep your eyes on the 
trail,” said Andrew West. “If you look down 
you may get dizzy and fall out of the saddle.” 

Near the top of the cliffs the way was worse 
than ever. The man passed in safety and then 
came Bob. Si’s horse came to a halt. 

“I can’t make that !” cried the former farm lad, 
in dismay. “If the horse tries it we’ll go over, 
sure !” 

“Nonsense!” exclaimed Bob. “Wait a 
minute.” 

He dismounted and caught Si’s horse by the 
bridle. Then the steed came on, slowly and 
cautiously ; and in a few seconds more the danger 
was over. 

Once on top of the cliffs the riding was easy. 
Andrew West located the point below which the 
cave was situated, and they rode around it in 
several directions. 

“I see something like an opening,” said Bob, a 
few minutes later. “I think — look!” 

He pointed to a split in the rocks. A Mexican 
had just appeared. He did not see them and was 
looking towards a valley far back of the cave. 

“Is he alone?” whispered Si. 


2 86 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“He seems to be.” 

“Let us try to capture him !” 

The three dismounted and crept forward, 
screening themselves behind some pointed rocks. 
Soon they were within a dozen feet of the Mexi- 
can, who had stepped away from the opening, to 
get a better look at the valley. 

“Now!” cried Andrew West and threw himself 
forward. The two boys followed, and in a 
twinkling the Mexican was thrown down, and 
then a fierce struggle ensued. 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


BROUGHT TO BAY — CONCLUSION 

Left at the bottom of the cliffs, the others of 
the party drew a trifle closer to the mouth of the 
cave. They could see nobody, and wondered if 
it was possible that Sag Ruff and his associates in 
crime had managed in some way to get away. 

“Perhaps they are miles away by this time,” 
said Mark. “We really ought to go into the cave 
and make sure.” 

“And git shot for our pains,” said Maybe 
Dixon. “None o’ that in mine.” 

Nevertheless, as the moments went by, all grew 
more anxious, and at last, when it grew dark, they 
walked up within a hundred feet of the opening. 

“Halt !” came in the voice of Sag Ruff, and he 
peered forth from behind a rock, pistol in hand. 

“Come out of that!” cried Mark. 

“We are not coming out,” answered the 
gambler. 

“You had better,” said Maybe Dixon. “You 
ain’t got no show to git away.” 

287 


288 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 


“Don’t be so sure of that,” came from Morgan 
Fitzsimmons, who was behind another rock, and 
also armed. 

“We’ll starve you out, if we can’t do better,” 
said one of the posse. 

“You must give up to the law,” said Peckham. 

“He’s an under-sheriff,” said Maybe Dixon, 
but did not add from what State. 

“An under-sheriff !” muttered Morgan Fitz- 
simmons, in dismay. “They are certainly after 
us hot-footed,” he added, to Sag Ruff. 

“Look here, if you are willing, maybe we will 
compromise,” said Sag Ruff, after a long pause. 

“We are not compromising with criminals,” 
said Mark. 

“You want your gold, don’t you?” 

“Yes, and we are bound to have it,” put in 
Maybe Dixon. 

“Unless you will compromise, you’ll never see 
a speck of your dust,” growled Sag Ruff. 

“Nor a nugget neither,” came from Morgan 
Fitzsimmons. “We have got the upper hand, 
and you know it.” 

“We are going to capture you and get the gold, 
too,” said Mark. 

“Perhaps you think we have the gold with us,” 
said Morgan Fitzsimmons. 

“You have,” cried Maybe Dixon. 


BROUGHT TO BAY— CONCLUSION 289 

“Nothing of the kind. We hid it away, miles 
from here.” 

“Do you think he tells the truth ?” asked Mark. 

“I do not,” answered Maybe Dixon. “I saw 
the bag several times as the rascals rode along. 
If they got rid of it at all it was just before they 
made for this cave.” 

“You’ll give up that gold right enough,” 
shouted one of the miners in the posse. “We’ll 
make you tell where it is, even if it takes a rope to 
do it.” 

“That’s the talk !” cried another. “Hanging is 
too good for such skunks!” 

At the mention of hanging Morgan Fitzsim- 
mons turned deathly pale. 

“Will they dare to — to hang us?” he faltered. 

“Like as not,” said Sag Ruff. “To tell the 
truth, we are in a tight box.” 

“Perhaps they will let us go, if we give up all 
the gold.” 

“I don’t think so. We have led them a long 
chase and they are mad.” 

“What shall we do?” 

“Hold them at bay for the present, until those 
two greasers report. If we can get out the back 
way it will give us something of a chance to 
escape.” 

“But they can come in this way.” 


290 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Not if we let down those rocks/’ and Sag 
Ruff pointed to some rocks overhead that seemed 
to be loose and ready to fall. 

“Can we do that?” 

“I think so.” 

The two Mexicans had gone to the rear of the 
cave to investigate. The place was long and nar- 
row, making several sharp turns. It was of solid 
rock, with an uneven flooring. In one spot some 
water trickled down the side and formed a pool 
below. 

The horses were standing some distance back 
from the front entrance. They were all but ex- 
hausted and needed a long rest before they would 
be fit to proceed on another journey. Sag Ruff 
knew this, and it vexed him exceedingly. 

“If you don’t come out of that, we’ll shoot at 
you,” said Maybe Dixon, at last. “We are bound 
to get you, so you might as well give up now as 
later.” 

“Will you compromise?” 

“No.” 

“Then we won’t give up, and if you shoot, so 
will we,” answered Sag Ruff. 

He was growing reckless and was fit for any 
deed of daring. A shot rang out and the bullet 
whistled over his head. He fired two shots in 
return, one at Maybe Dixon and one at Mark. 


BROUGHT TO BAY— CONCLUSION 


291 


Then came more shots from outside, but none of 
them took effect. 

“Fire at them!” cried Sag Ruff to Morgan 
Fitzsimmons. “It’s the only way we can keep 
them back.” 

The man from Philadelphia did as ordered, but 
his aim was poor and nobody was struck. The 
first bullets had grazed the coats of Maybe Dixon 
and Mark, but that was all. 

Thinking it unsafe to remain near the mouth of 
the cave, our friends withdrew to the shelter of 
the rocks. Hardly had they done so when some 
shots rang out, coming from above the cave. 

“They must have gone to the rear!” cried 
Mark. “What shall we do ?” 

“It may be a ruse,” said Maybe Dixon. “That 
wasn’t the signal for us !” 

“Look ! look !” called out Peckham. 

He pointed to the mouth of the cave. A mass 
of rocks had fallen, all but closing up the open- 
ing. 

“Wonder if that was done on purpose,” said 
Mark. “It is funny they should fall just at this 
time !” 

A moment later came three shots in rapid suc- 
cession from the top of the cliffs. 

“There’s the signal!” cried the under-sheriff 
from Missouri. 


292 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

“Come on !” returned Maybe Dixon. “Three 
of us can go up and the rest stay here,” and off he 
sped, followed by Mark and Peckham. 

How he got to the top of the cliffs Mark hardly 
knew. But once there he found a lively fight 
going on. The first Mexican had been captured 
by Andrew West, Si, and Bob, but the other fel- 
low had fired on them, and now Sag Ruff and 
Morgan Fitzsimmons were in the mix-up, each 
on horseback. 

“We must ride for it !” cried Sag Ruff, as the 
party from below came into view. “They are too 
many for us !” 

“Ride it is,” answered Morgan Fitzsimmons. 

Both men struck their steeds fiercely, to force 
them into a gallop, and over the rocks they clat- 
tered. Maybe Dixon saw this, took aim at them, 
and fired four times. Mark also fired, and with a 
wild leap Sag Ruff’s animal went down, throwing 
his rider over his head. The horse Morgan Fitz- 
simmons rode was also hit and ran wild, close to 
the edge of the rocks. 

“Stop! Stop!” yelled the man from Phila- 
delphia. “Stop! Whoa!” But the horse was 
too frightened to stop, and the next moment 
slipped and fell over the cjiff, carrying the 
swindler with him. 

Sag Ruff was partly stunned by his fall, but he 


BROUGHT TO BAY— CONCLUSION 


293 


managed to get up on his knees, flourishing his 
pistol wildly. 

“Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!” he 
screamed, and then Mark swooped down upon 
him from behind, threw him over, and disarmed 
him. In a few seconds he was surrounded and 
made a prisoner. Then the posse turned on the 
second Mexican and he also was disarmed and his 
hands were bound tightly behind him. 

In the meantime those at the foot of the cliff 
had seen the tumble taken by Morgan Fitzsim- 
mons and his horse. They ran to the spot, to 
find the horse dead from a broken neck. Beside 
the animal lay the man from Philadelphia, 
bruised and unconscious. 

“I don’t think he will live,” said one miner, 
after an examination. “If he does, he will be a 
cripple for life.” 

When the fight was over, all hands gathered at 
the foot of the cliff, close to what had been the 
mouth of the cave. The two Mexicans were 
bound hand to hand and ankle to ankle, so that to 
escape would be next to impossible. Sag Ruff 
was tied to a sharp rock and Morgan Fitzsimmons 
was placed on a horse blanket. The man from 
Philadelphia was still unconscious, but in a little 
while he gave a groan and opened his eyes. 

“Don’t hurt me!” he murmured. “Please 


294 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

don’t !” and then he relapsed into unconsciousness 
again. 

“Poor fellow, I guess he has got all that is com- 
ing to him,” said Si. “Hang me if I ain’t kinder 
sorry for him, after all !” 

“He has nobody to blame but himself,” said 
Bob. “He chose to be a rascal and this is the 
result.” 

“I hope he lives,” said Mark. “I want him to 
clear up that mystery of the office robbery.” 

Maybe Dixon and the boys were tremendously 
anxious concerning the missing nuggets and gold 
dust. They passed into the cave, through a nar- 
row spot that was still open, and candles were lit, 
for it was now dark. 

At first they found nothing, but presently dis- 
covered a trace of gold dust on the rocky flooring. 
The thin stream of gold led to one side of 
the cave, where was located a high and dry 
pocket. 

“Hurrah ! here is the bag !” shouted Mark, haul- 
ing it forth. 

“Are the nuggets there?” asked Si, anxiously. 

“Yes.” 

“An’ the dust?” queried Maybe Dixon. 

“Yes. One small bag is burst open. That left 
the trail on the floor.” 

“And a good thing for us,” said Si. 


“We can 


BROUGHT TO BAY— CONCLUSION 


295 


afford to lose a little dust, so long as we’ve found 
all the rest.” 

Going to a corner by themselves, they examined 
the contents of the bag with care. So far as they 
could remember, all of the nuggets were there, 
just as they had buried them. The gold dust 
was a little short, but not over two or three 
ounces. 

“As Si says, that little don’t count,” said Maybe 
Dixon. “I am more than thankful we have all 
the rest.” 

“So say I,” said Bob, and the other boys said 
the same. 

It was a happy party that went to rest that 
night, close to the foot of the cliffs. Morgan 
Fitzsimmons was made as comfortable as pos- 
sible, although some of the posse were in favor of 
hanging all four of the prisoners. Mark was 
utterly worn out and went to sleep quickly, despite 
the excitement through which he had passed. 

The next morning Mark had an interview with 
Morgan Fitzsimmons. Like Soapy Gannon, the 
man from Philadelphia was utterly discouraged, 
and willing to do anything to make matters easy 
for himself. 

“I need a doctor,” said he. “I am all broke 
up.” 

“I’ll get you a doctor, if you’ll confess about 


296 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

that affair at my step-father’s office in Phila- 
delphia,” answered Mark. 

“All right, I’ll do it. One more crime on my 
head won’t count, I reckon. I took the money, 
just as you suspected. You can write out a con- 
fession, and I’ll sign it in the presence of wit- 
nesses. Please get a doctor as soon as you can, 
and — and don’t let them ha — hang me!” he whis- 
pered, pleadingly. 

“They are not going to hang you,” answered 
Mark. 

“Some of them spoke of doing it.” 

“We are going to turn you, Ruff, and the two 
Mexicans over to the law.” And a week later this 
was done. Soapy Gannon was also placed under 
arrest, but was used as a witness against the 
others. Morgan Fitzsimmons went to a hospital 
for two months and was afterwards tried and 
sentenced to several years in prison, and a long 
term of imprisonment fell also to the share of Sag 
Ruff. The two Mexicans were sent to Mexico, 
where they had to answer to several grave 
charges, and were also placed in durance vile. 

As soon as he had Morgan Fitzsimmons’ con- 
fession in his possession, Mark had a duplicate 
made of it by a notary public and forwarded the 
same to his step-father. In return Jadell Powers 
sent a long letter, in which he begged Mark to 


BROUGHT TO BAY—CONCLUSION- 


297 


forgive him for suspecting the lad. He added 
that he was glad Mark was doing so well and that 
he could remain in California as long as he 
pleased. 

“Maybe he was afraid you’d make it warm for 
him,” suggested Maybe Dixon. 

“Some day I am going back to Philadelphia 
and make him make a full settlement,” answered 
Mark. “But I guess that time is a good way off 
yet.” 

The four partners had learned the lesson that 
it was not safe, in such a rough country, to keep 
much gold on hand, and Maybe Dixon and Si 
made a journey to Sacramento, where they placed 
the nuggets and most of the dust in the hands of a 
responsible banker, who gave them proper credit. 
Si sent ten thousand dollars to his folks, much to 
their unbounded amazement and gratification. 

As soon as matters had quieted down a little the 
boys and Maybe Dixon set to work to clear away 
the rocks and dirt deposited over the little cavern 
by the landslide. This was hard labor, but when 
winter came the work was done, and during the 
cold weather they spent their time in enlarging the 
opening. They found quite a number of nuggets, 
and a “pay streak” that made their hearts leap 
with joy. The claim was properly staked out 
and recorded, and Andrew West took a claim on 


298 PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS 

one side of them, and Josiah Socket located on the 
other. Later on all of the claims were merged 
into one concern, the Golden Pick Mining Com- 
pany, a corporation which became one of the best 
known in California. 

When Mark finally returned to Philadelphia 
his step-father treated him with every considera- 
tion.^ Mark was then of age and rich, and to 
Jadell Powers nothing had so much value as 
money. 

“You deserve your success, my lad,” said he. 
“I wish you well.” And then and there all their 
quarrels were dropped and a just settlement made 
all around. Then Mark went back to California, 
to settle down. He married one of the Socket 
girls, a beautiful miss of seventeen, and led a 
happy and prosperous life. Si married Tillie 
West, and they made a most loving and affec- 
tionate couple. Bob remained a bachelor, and 
having acquired a good-sized fortune went to 
traveling, covering nearly every quarter of the 
globe. 


THE END 






I 





10V 9 1906 




















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